The rampant abuse and misuse of drugs are posing a threat to the health and public safety of Americans. Particularly when criminals mix opioid drugs with “Designer Benzodiazepines,” it exacerbates the lethality of this emerging drug crisis.
According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), during just the first six months of 2020, 92.7% of deaths related to benzodiazepines involved opioid drugs, with 66.7% involving illegally manufactured fentanyl.
Benzodiazepines are originally used as sedatives to treat symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia, but they also carry risks of addiction, toxicity, and fatal overdose. Drug dealers have exploited this by creating Designer Benzodiazepines, a new type of benzodiazepine-based Novel Psychoactive Substance (NPS).
NPS, often called “lab drugs,” have become the third generation of emerging drugs popular globally after opioids, heroin, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. The challenge is that criminals are using the internet and social media to sell deadly drugs and illegal substances to the younger generation, leading to many unfortunate deaths after consuming such substances.
Etizolam is currently the Designer Benzodiazepine found in the illegal drug market in the United States.
Last Friday, 52-year-old Paul Z. Lamberty from California was charged by the Department of Justice for allegedly conspiring to sell illegal Etizolam online.
According to the charges, Lamberty operated websites like encern.com and ohmod.com, selling Etizolam drugs to customers across the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved Etizolam for medical use in the U.S., therefore it cannot be sold or prescribed in the country.
The documents revealed that Lamberty allegedly purchased drugs from suppliers in China, imported them into the U.S., and sold them with false labels claiming the products were “for research purposes only” and “not for human consumption.”
Lamberty faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States and introducing misbranded drugs with intent to defraud and mislead others. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of introducing misbranded drugs could result in a maximum sentence of three years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.
Overdosing on Etizolam can result in symptoms such as unsteady gait, muscle weakness, drowsiness, confusion, depression, slurred speech, and more. Due to its addictive nature, sudden cessation after long-term use can lead to withdrawal symptoms. Combining Etizolam with other central nervous system depressants can also result in fatal or catastrophic side effects, including death or coma.
Officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have repeatedly cautioned the public that drug trafficking groups are selling counterfeit drugs through social media in an effort to addict people.
For instance, drug dealers mix fentanyl into fake prescription painkillers like OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin to increase addiction potential and attract repeat customers. Mixing Etizolam with fentanyl, however, significantly raises the mortality rate. Numerous individuals have experienced life-threatening situations after mistakenly ingesting fake drugs purchased online.
Etizolam is currently a prescription drug in Japan, India, and Italy but has not been approved for medical use in the U.S. It typically appears in powder or tablet form. ◇