Xylazine; The New Deadly Street Drug

Xylazine, The New Deadly Street Drug

Xylazine, which goes by the street names, “tranq” or “tranq dope”, is a deadly new street drug that people might not even know they’re receiving. Originally created as a veterinary tranquilizer, this drug is not approved for use in humans, yet seems to be getting in the hands of our kids.

It works by depressing the central nervous system, inducing a state of sedation and pain relief. Its primary use was intended to aid in procedures like surgeries and diagnostic tests in animals. It is effective in relaxing large animals like horses and cows, without having to use general anesthesia.

Xylazine is deadly for people, due to the side effects of reduced breathing and heart rate. The biggest reason this drug is dangerous to humans is that it is often combined with other illegal drugs to enhance their effect.

Currently, the Northeast region of the United States had the largest total use of this drug across the nation, while the Southern region had the largest percentage of growth between 2020-2021. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reported that in 2022, approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by them containedXylazine.

Xylazine and opioids make a lethal combination.

This powerful sedative is usually combined with opioids, such as fentanyl and heroin which makes an even more lethal combination. These concoctions heighten the risk for overdose and death.

Xylazine is attractive to illegal drug manufacturers because it’s inexpensive and easily available. Due to its legal status for veterinary purposes, dealers use it to cut other opioids, increasing volume and intensifying the effects.

Since Xylazine is legally manufactured for veterinary use, it can be found in veterinary supply companies. This drug can be bought in bulk, online, and in either liquid or powder form.

Health risks and complications.

Xylazine poses serious risks when used in humans. Although medical experts initially explored its potential for human use, they ultimately ruled it out due to the drug’s dangerous side effects, including severe respiratory depression and cardiovascular complications.

One of the most deadly side effects of Xylazine is that it depresses the central nervous system. It is even more potent in slowing down breathing than some other opioids. This makes it especially deadly when mixed with fentanyl, because fentanyl also slows breathing.

Xylazine causes extreme sedation, which can lead to prolonged unconsciousness. Users often appear to be in a “zombie-like” state leaving them additionally more susceptible to injury, assault or accidents.

The drug often causes serious skin issues, such as skin ulcers, infections and necrosis (death of cells or tissue). In severe cases, this will lead to amputation. These wounds can develop regardless of how the drug is administered (injection, smoking or snorting). Experts are still studying the reason for the tissue death, but they believe it is due to constriction of blood vessels at the entry site.

Naloxone (Narcan) is a drug used to reverse the effects of fentanyl and other opioids, but it is not effective in treating overdose of Xylazine. The Centers For Disease Control (CDC) recommends that Naloxone still be used to treat overdose victims for the part of the drug that is an opioid, although other emergency measures may become necessary.

The impact of Xylazine on public health.

Because of the extreme health risks to individuals, there is an unintended effect of Xylazine on public health. Risks include, not only rising overdose deaths, but also complications in the efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

The drug presents new challenges for emergency responders. Because Xylazine is often combined with fentanyl, first responders will follow a protocol of administering Narcan first. When the effects do not appear to help the patient recover consciousness, additional doses of Narcan may be unnecessarily administered.

In addition, the routine toxicology screens that hospitals usually administer, do not detect Xylazine. The recommendation is that first responders should continue to administer Naloxone for opioid overdoses, and take Xylazine into consideration if the patient is not responding.

What communities can do to reduce the threat of Xylazine.

The White House Fact Sheet on the response to Xylazine and Fentanyl overdose outlines how officials can address the emerging threat of the combination of these two drugs.

Here are some proactive steps that communities and us individually can take:

Increase public awareness and education. Community members can educate others through public health campaigns about the dangers of this drug.
Provide training for emergency responders. More training is necessary for paramedics, police officers and first responders on how to identify and handle Xylazine.
Increase access to detox and rehabilitation. Easier access to long-term solutions to individuals struggling with addiction.
Create community partnerships. Create partnerships between law enforcement, health organizations, social services and local governments for a coordinated response to the Xylazine crisis.
More responsibility on the government. More coordinate efforts with government officials can reduce illicit supply and criminalize drug traffickers.
Educate the public on the dangers of this drug.
Test strips for Xylazine in drug store. These exist, yet difficult to get and should be at every drug store.
All homes have Narcan on hand. While it may not directly help with Xylazine overdose, naloxone does reverse symptoms caused by the opioids that may be mixed with the drug. The FDA approved Narcan as an “over-the-counter” drug in March of 2023 and available in drug stores.

Xylazine’s rise as a deadly street drug signals an alarming new stage in the opioid crisis. Governments, communities, families and individuals need to come together to reduce the tragic consequences of this new threat.

At Therapeutic Educational Consulting, we help guide, support and recommend for all kinds of therapeutic answers. Schedule a no-cost discovery call with Rae Guyer, your therapeutic consultant to discuss options.

Photo credit, Conrado Ducommun