Bromazolam

Bromazolam (brom or brum) is a novel benzodiazepine, similar in structure to alprazolam (Xanax).

The first detection of bromazolam in European drug markets was in 2016. The first detection in Scotland was in 2021.

Reports to RADAR describe bromazolam as having severe sleep inducing and sedative effects, more so than known effects of etizolam. Several reports describe reduced consciousness, memory loss and blackouts, where individuals have difficulty remembering events that occurred while under the influence of the drug (and for several days afterwards).

Often effects are described as fluctuating – the person can quickly change from being sedated, to alert, to sedated again.

  • agitation
  • confusion
  • drowsiness
  • euphoria
  • memory loss and blackouts
  • hallucinations
  • vomiting
  • reduced anxiety
  • reduced breathing
  • reduced coordination
  • reduced heart rate 
  • reduced response
  • slurred speech

Detections

This alert applies to all of Scotland. There have been detections of bromazolam in most regions. The drug testing service, WEDINOS, has detected bromazolam in samples sent from 11 NHS Boards.

Detections have increased rapidly in the last year. It was present in:

  • 37% of samples in the ASSIST emergency department study (February to May 2023)
  • 80% of prison benzodiazepine seizures (April to July 2023)
  • 23% of post-mortem toxicology samples testing positive for a controlled drug (April to May 2023).

 

Image caption Figure 1: Common benzos detected by Scottish Prison Service (SPS) drug analysis project
Common benzos detected by Scottish Prison Service (SPS) drug analysis project
This stacked bar chart shows different segments representing the percentages of six substances (diazepam, bromazolam, etizolam, flualprazolam, flubromazepam and ‘other’) detected in benzodiazepine samples in Scottish prisons for each quarter from January 2022 to March 2023. The percentage is shown on the y axis and the dates on the x axis. The chart shows that overtime etizolam detections have decreased, from 58% in quarter one of 2022 to 5% in quarter one of 2023. Bromazolam detections increased from 7% to 58%. Over the time series, ‘other’ made up an average of 14% of the detections and diazepam made up 11%. There was a small number of detections for flualprazolam in quarter one of 2022, and flubromazepam in quarter one and three of 2022 and quarter one of 2023.
Image caption Figure 2: Five most common benzos detected by WEDINOS in samples from Scotland
Five most common benzos detected by WEDINOS in samples from Scotland.
This stacked bar chart shows different segments representing the percentages of five substances (diazepam, bromazolam, etizolam, flubromazolam and flubromazepam). These substances were detected in benzodiazepine samples sent from Scotland to WEDINOS. They are displayed by each quarter from January 2022 to 14 June 2023. The percentage is shown on the y axis and the dates on the x axis. The chart shows that overtime diazepam detections decreased from 43% in quarter one of 2022 to 31% in quarter two of 2023. Etizolam detections decreased from 50% to 29%. Bromazolam detections increased from 0% to 32%. Flubromazepam was detected in a small number of samples over the time series, peaking at 20% in quarter four of 2022 before decreasing to 0% in quarter two of 2023. Flubromazepam was detected in an average of 3% of samples over the time series, reaching 8% in the most recent quarter.

Appearance

Between 1 January and 14 June 2023, WEDINOS detected bromazolam in 49 samples sent from Scotland. Bromazolam was the ‘purchase intent’ for only one of the 49 samples.

  • 72% were blue or white circular pills, often half score on one side, generally purchased as diazepam.
  • 24% were white, green or teal bars, often stamped with ‘XANAX’, purchased as alprazolam or Xanax.
  • 4% were blue oval pills, purchased as ‘up-johns’.

In prisons, bromazolam has also been found in paper and powder form, in a variety of colours – tan, brown, yellow, white, grey and pink. Due to its potency, it is impossible to accurately dose bromazolam powder. In pure powder form, 1 gram is 1,000 doses (TripSit). A few ‘grains’ of powder can be enough to cause overdose.

Image caption Bromazolam in white circular tablet from Glasgow, mis-sold as diazepam (photo credit: WEDINOS, W032610)
Image showing a white circular tablet, stamped with a 10
Image caption Bromazolam in blue circular tablet from Aberdeen, mis-sold as diazepam (photo credit: WEDINOS, W032864)
Image showing a light blue tablet, stamped with a half score and 10 on both halves
Image caption Bromazolam powder from West Scotland (photo credit: Police Scotland)
Image showing a pile of tan coloured powder
Last updated: 06 June 2024
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