HOUSTON – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration released a public safety alert to warn Americans of a growing threat of a deadly drug called Xylazine, a combination of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
The Department of State Health Services also issued an health advisory regarding the emerging use of xylazine-laced drug overdoses in the United States, including Texas.
So far, law enforcement has identified xylazine in West Texas. It has also informed DSHS of at least four deaths resulting from the combined drug toxicity of xylazine along with at least one other illicit substance.
The Biden-Harris Administration has designated fentanyl adulterated or associated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States.
Between 2020 and 2021, forensic laboratory identifications of xylazine rose in all four U.S. census regions, most notably in the south (193%) and the west (112%).
What is xylazine and why is it dangerous?
Xylazine, also known as “Tranq” or” Zombie drug” is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use, according to the DEA.
It has not been approved for humans and likely, never will be after the recent surge in the use of the drug causing many serious side effects, Cenikor.org stated.
“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States. The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,735 Americans died between August 2021 and August 2022 from drug poisonings, with 66% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl.
Narcan can’t reverse overdose
The drug mixtures increases the fatality due to its higher risk of drug poisoning.
According to the DEA, because xylazine is not an opioid, Narcan does not reverse its side effects. Although not effects, experts still recommend using naloxone if someone may be suffering a drug poisoning.
Side effects of xylazine
Users who inject the drug mixtures can develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation, the DEA stated.
According to the CDC and DSHS, xylazine can cause the following symptoms:
- Sedation
- Unresponsive and decreased consciousness
- Difficulty breathing
- Dangerously low blood pressure
- Slowed heart rate
- Wounds that can become infected
- Severe withdrawal symptoms
- Death
Why health professionals refer to xylazine as a “Zombie drug”
According to Cenikor, the moniker given to the drug alludes to two of the most common effects of regular use; an unconscious, shambling appearance and a tendency for wounds to appear randomly before necrotizing.
Official said users tend to lose their ability to heal and are plagued by seemingly random sores.
“If you’ve ever seen someone standing around as if frozen in place, barely managing to stay upright, this is likely due to xylazine-laced fentanyl. This animal tranquilizer has such a profound effect on humans as to render us practically unconscious on our feet,” the released read.