Phenazepam

Introduction:
Phenazepam belongs to a class of substances known as benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that produce central nervous system (CNS) depression and are commonly used to treat insomnia and anxiety. Phenazepam is currently a prescription medication in Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries but has recently emerged on the illicit drug market in the United Kingdom and United States. Phenazepam is usually encountered in powder form, in solution contained in dropper bottles or in tablet form.
Phenazepam has also been observed in combination with synthetic cannabinoids laced on smoke-able herbal products and spiked onto blotter papers.

Licit Uses:
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed drugs, however phenazepam does not currently have an accepted medical use in the United States. Phenazepam was developed in the Soviet Union and has been used as a prescribed medication since 1978 to treat neurological conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, alcohol withdrawal syndrome and sleep disorders. It is available as 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg tablets, 0.1% and 0.3% injectable solutions or transdermal patches in countries where it is marketed for clinical use.