FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 18, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the emergency designation of bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance, banning the drug from being sold in Kentucky and providing law enforcement the ability to make arrests for sales or possession. The action comes after bromazolam, widely known as “designer Xanax,” has been tied to a growing number of fatal overdoses in the commonwealth and across the nation. It was detected in 48 overdose deaths in Kentucky in 2024.
“Team Kentucky has made important progress in our fight against addiction, with three-straight years of declines in overdose deaths, and we’re committed to ensuring that work continues,” Gov. Beshear said. “This deadly drug has no place in our communities, and now we have the tools needed to get it off the streets and protect more lives.”
The classification of bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance took immediate effect following the Governor’s emergency regulation. Gov. Beshear’s decision came after a request by Attorney General Russell Coleman.
“By answering our call to take emergency action on bromazolam, we have given Kentucky law enforcement new tools to keep this dangerous drug off our streets,” said Attorney General Coleman. “I’m proud of the zealous collaboration with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force to sound the alarm and save lives. We live in a moment when as little as one pill can kill – and is killing – our kids. I’m glad we could work together to tackle this grave threat.”
Kentucky joins Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Virginia and West Virginia in designating bromazolam as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.
Fight Against Addiction
In May of this year, Gov. Beshear announced that overdose deaths in the commonwealth decreased for the third year in a row, with a 30.2% decrease in 2024 compared with the previous year.
Gov. Beshear has continued to fight the state’s drug epidemic since his time as attorney general, when he led the nation in the number of individual opioid lawsuits filed by an attorney general. Now, Gov. Beshear is working to make sure the hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement funds go to treatment and the communities impacted.
The state’s Treatment Access Program also allows those without health insurance to enter residential treatment, and the Recovery Ready certification helps communities support residents who are seeking help for drug or alcohol addiction. The Beshear-Coleman administration created a website to help people in recovery find housing, FindRecoveryHousingNowKY.org, and a website to support Kentuckians seeking second chances find a job, get an education or continue recovery, SecondChance.ky.gov. The site also connects business leaders with resources to help them hire second-chance talent.
Treatment Resources
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction, the KY HELP Call Center can connect you to treatment by calling 833-8KY-HELP (833-859-4357).
Information about treatment programs all across the commonwealth is available at FindHelpNowKy.org. Information on how to obtain the life-saving drug naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, can be found at that website as well as at FindNaloxoneNowKy.org and FindMentalHealthNowKy.org.
Visit the Kentucky State Police website to find one of KSP’s 16 posts where those suffering from addiction can be paired with a local officer who will assist with locating an appropriate treatment program. The Angel Initiative is completely voluntary, and individuals will not be arrested or charged with any violations if they agree to participate in treatment.
###