Diclazepam powder is a synthetic designer benzodiazepine that appears as a white to off-white crystalline powder. It is an unscheduled substance in some places, but is a controlled substance in the United States and other countries due to its potential for abuse and lack of approved medical use.
Key Information
- Description: Diclazepam is typically found as a white powder. It is insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents like ethanol.
- Status: It has never been approved as a medication for human use in any country.
- In the United States, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily placed diclazepam in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in July 2023, due to an imminent hazard to public safety and lack of accepted medical use.
- Internationally, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that it be added to Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
- Use and Effects: Diclazepam is a research chemical that acts on the central nervous system, producing effects similar to diazepam (Valium), including sedative, anxiolytic (anti-anxiety), and muscle relaxant properties.
- Risks: Efficacy and safety in humans have not been formally studied. Its use has been associated with numerous fatalities, impaired driving cases, and a high potential for abuse. It is often sold illicitly online and sometimes found in falsified prescription pills.
- Availability: As a controlled substance in many jurisdictions, its sale is restricted to research and forensic applications, and generally requires appropriate licensing and regulatory compliance. Illicit powder may be available on the black market, but poses significant legal and health risks.
