Etizolam is an anti-depression, anxiolytic, sedative and amnesic drug used for the treatment of insomnia, panic attack and anxiety. It is thienotriazolodiazepine in nature and differs from its parent benzodiazepine only in the fact that the benzene ring in the typical benzodiazepine is replaced by a combination of thiphene and triazole rings. Despite being a potent anti-anxiety drug, the sedative and hypnotic effect of etizolam makes it prone to dependence upon prolonged consumption. Hence etizolam, mostly, is misused by people across the globe. This brings upon etizolam legality issues on the use of etizolam in most countries.
In comparison to most of the similar type of drugs, etizolam is reported to have very low of a level of dependency (if not none), and hence complete prohibition of the use of etizolam is a very rare case. Most of the countries are lenient on the use of etizolam, and hence the availability of etizolam is not an issue. However, the prescription is almost mandatory for general people to buy etizolam from any normal drug store. Countries such as Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom have made etizolam legal, but only for controlled use. In these countries, unlike benzodiazepine, etizolam is available in small quantities if the buyer shows authentic prescription provided by a registered pharmacist.
Etizolam in USA and Canada
The legal status of Etizolam in the whole of the USA is a bit conflicting subject to discuss as it varies from state to state. Commonly, etizolam is not allowable for medical use as stated by FDA and hence comes under the unscheduled list of drugs. However, etizolam is easily available for research purpose in most places over the USA. Authorised use of etizolam in controlled amount as per rules laid in March 2016 is legal in states such as Arkansas, Florida, Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia and Alabama. Thus, it can be said that there are no such legality issues in the USA over the use of etizolam. However, cases of huge quantities of etizolam being seized at customs are not uncommon in the USA. Hence, it can be said that the legal status of etizolam is a debatable subject in the USA.
In Canada too, the legality regarding etizolam is confusing just like other states in North America. However, in comparison to benzodiazepine which is completely banned in many states, etizolam has lower withdrawal and dependence liabilities and hence use in controlled amount is totally legal in Canada too. Etizolam can be privately bought after consultation with pharmacy specialist pertaining to the amount prescribed them in Canada. For research purposes also, etizolam is legally bought by medical laboratories. The confusion regarding the legality of etizolam is partial because it was developed not many years ago and researchers, medical practitioners and general people got to know of its beneficial effects and lesser side effects not very long ago. Being a benzo analog, which had higher dependency and side effect hazards, etizolam unfairly suffered strict legal scrutiny all these years.
To sum it up, with the increasing popularity of etizolam for its meager dependency, tolerance and side effect properties, legal issues over etizolam will cease to exist in the provinces of USA and Canada in coming years. And along with these countries, other countries across the globe will also be lenient on the use of etizolam as well.
