Kentucky officials say at least 47 people died in 2024 from overdoses tied to what's being dubbed "designer Xanax." Despite its potency, the drug is not scheduled in the state nor federally.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear took emergency action Monday to ban the sale of "designer Xanax," responding to a request from his state's attorney general who is leading a broader effort to combat the highly potent synthetic drug linked to dozens of overdose deaths last year in the Bluegrass State.

Bromazolam, known as ‘designer Xanax,’ is being sold as prescription pills and has proven to be highly potent and lethal, especially when combined with opioids or other depressants.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced on Monday that bromazolam, also known as “Designer Xanax,” received the emergency designation as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.