Montgomery, AL – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined a coalition of 21 state attorneys general urging the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to take emergency action against bromazolam, a synthetic substance linked to overdose deaths nationwide.
In a letter addressed to DEA Administrator Terry Cole, the attorneys general warned that bromazolam, often referred to as “designer Xanax,” is “highly potent and unpredictable.” Unlike regulated medications, they noted, illicitly manufactured bromazolam has no quality controls, making it especially dangerous for users.
The coalition is calling on the DEA to use its emergency scheduling authority, a move that would classify bromazolam as a controlled substance. Such a designation would empower law enforcement to seize the drug, give prosecutors stronger tools against traffickers, and send a clear deterrent message.
“As we have witnessed firsthand, our coalition is confident that President Trump is deeply committed to the health and safety of every American. Bromazolam is an exceedingly dangerous substance that poses an urgent threat to our communities,” Attorney General Marshall said. “We urgently call on the DEA and the Trump Administration to recognize the gravity of this issue and take decisive action to eliminate this drug from our neighborhoods. The time for a strong, proactive response is now.”
The letter was led by Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman and joined by attorneys general from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
The coalition emphasized that immediate federal action is necessary to curb the spread of bromazolam and protect communities across the United States.
