DEA Bans Five Sneaky Benzo Drugs in Schedule I Crackdown
Published Date: 7/25/2025
Proposed Rule
Summary
The DEA wants to make it official: clonazolam, diclazepam, etizolam, flualprazolam, and flubromazolam will stay in Schedule I, meaning they’re illegal to make, sell, or use without special permission. This change affects anyone handling these drugs and keeps the rules strict, matching international drug laws. If approved, these tough rules will last beyond July 2026, with no new costs for most people.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Five Drugs Permanently Placed in Schedule I
If you handle clonazolam, diclazepam, etizolam, flualprazolam, or flubromazolam (including their salts and isomers), this proposed rule would place them in Schedule I so they are illegal to manufacture, distribute, import, export, research, teach about, chemically analyze, or possess without special permission. These substances were temporarily scheduled on July 26, 2023 and the temporary scheduling was extended until July 26, 2026; if finalized the rule would make those Schedule I controls permanent.
Rule Says No New Costs For Most People
If finalized, the rule states there will be no new costs for most people even though the five substances would remain in Schedule I beyond July 26, 2026. You (as a typical member of the public) would generally not face new financial requirements from this action.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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