“Fake-Xanax” Could Be The Next Drug Abused In North Dakota

It seems like new drugs pop up all the time in the U.S., and just like the mythical Hydra, it seems like if you chop off one head, two more grow back in it's place.

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The illicit drug industry is estimated to bring in over $100 billion annually, and just like any lucrative enterprise, competitors are trying to innovate to get their piece of that pie.

The vast majority (99%) of imported drugs find their way through the U.S. either by way of shipping containers from China or across our southern borders by U.S. citizens who act as drug mules for Mexican cartels.

As recently as a decade ago, we all not-so-fondly remember houses, barns, or even Winnebagos being used to make crystal meth.

However, since 2018, Fentanyl, and it's analogs have been increasing overdose body counts with staggering speed and efficiency.

Now there is word of another deadly drug rising in popularity, and it is being found in tandem with fentanyl.

Bromazolam is a drug first synthesized in 1976 but never marketed in the United States.  The designer drug, commonly referred to as 'fake Xanax', is much more potent, making it much easier to cause an overdose.

The Horsham, PA-based Center for Forensic Science and Research (cfsre) is raising alarm bells about the increase in detection of the drug.  It made it's way to the U.S. in 2019, and in the first quarter of 2021, it was found in about one percent of toxicology samples.

A little more than a year later, it was found in thirteen percent.

Roughly three-quarters of the Bromazolam samples were found to also contain fentanyl.  That's as bad a combo as you can put together.  Bromazolam on it's own can have significant side effects, as an overdose can put you into deep unconsciousness.

When combined with alcohol or other opioids, you're talking about an increasing risk of death.

Because it is an illegal drug, 'fake Xanax' pills can be cut with anything.  What makes Bromazolam even more challenging is that Narcan has no effect on someone overdosing on the drug.  The National Institute of Justice is warning of the nationwide spread.

It may be just a matter of time before we have to deal with it here in North Dakota.