In U.S., the drug overdose has been rising since 2019. An animal tranquilizer named xylazine, is increasingly used in drug abuse and causing deaths due to its overdose. The drug is mixed with opioids, like fentanyl or heroin to give more sedation effect but ultimately affecting the nervous system and the result becomes fatal.

The vet tranquilizer xylazine has been reported to be in almost a third of fatal overdose involving heroin or fentanyl which is quite alarming. Basically, xylazine is a non-opioid sedative, muscle relaxant, analgesic, painkiller that is used as veternary medicines. It is used for cattle, horses, cats, and other non-human mammals. This drug is not to be used for human.

The reason behind adding xylazine to drugs is basically to enhance the sedation effect and to reduce cost. The xylazine has effects that is quite like heroin and thus is mixed with heroin or fentanyl to increase the effect. As it increases the sedation effect, it has got nicknames such as “sleep cut”, “tranq” etc.

The combination of opioid and xylazine is quite dangerous as both are basically central nervous system depressants. They can depress breathing, blood pressure and heart rate to a dangerous level and the result can be fatal.

The problem is though there are drugs like naloxone that can reverse the effect of opioids but very few drugs are available for reversing the effect of xylazine. Special care will be needed if xylazine has been mixed with the drugs. In that case, the person will be requiring support for respiratory and cardiovascular care, so there is no alternative other than calling 911 immediately.

If we just consider the cases in Philadelphia only, the data shows the rise of death in OD’s where xylazine has been used. The data is as follows:

YEAR	No. of Deaths
2010 -2015	40 (2%)
2016	67 (11%)
2017	90 (10%)
2018	152 (18%)
2019	262 (31%)

 

Mostly these overdose cases of xylazine are found among men aged between 35 to 54.

So, it is a rising concern for the state and the people need to make aware about the consequences of this particular animal tranquilizer. It may be the case that the serious drug users are not knowing what they purchasing as heroin. They are not aware of the consequences that they might face. There are reports of opposite scenario also. The effect of xylazine is very much well known by the common people because of the social media and as because the cost involved is cheaper than heroin, so people are knowingly going for xylazine and putting themselves in danger.

Drug users reported that after they have started using xylazine, they noticed a strong odor in their breath, perspiration, urine and faces. They even noticed that they are spending more time in sleeping. They are even facing skin lesions.

So, drug treatment programs should take this issue very seriously and make the people aware of the high risk involved in it.

Citation

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-animal-sedative-fatal-drug-ods.html