OKLAHOMA CITY (March 25, 2026) – Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the Trump Administration has acted on his request to create a nationwide ban on bromazolam, known as "Designer Xanax," a dangerous synthetic drug linked to at least 15 deaths in Oklahoma last year.
Last week, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) formally added bromazolam to the federal schedule of controlled substances. The Schedule I designation empowers law enforcement across the country to crack down on bromazolam while increasing awareness of the drug's potentially deadly effects.
Last year, Drummond and a coalition of 20 state attorneys general urged the DEA to take emergency action and schedule the drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
"This is a major step forward in protecting Oklahoma families from a dangerous and unpredictable drug," Drummond said. "This decisive action by the Trump Administration gives law enforcement the authority needed to hold traffickers accountable and get this deadly substance off our streets."
Bromazolam has become an increasing concern for public health and law enforcement due to its potency and the difficulty detecting and responding to overdoses. Naloxone, or Narcan, is ineffective against bromazolam overdoses, further increasing the risk of fatal outcomes.
