The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency has issued a warning regarding the increasing use of a veterinary sedative in the illegal fentanyl market.
Dealers have been combining xylazine, a non-opioid tranquilizer that is approved for animal use, with fentanyl and other drugs to boost potency and maximize their profits. This practice has been going on for several years.
According to a recent statement by DEA Administrator Anne Milgram, in 2022, approximately 25% of all powdered fentanyl contained xylazine. However, in 2023, this percentage increased to about 30%. On the other hand, the percentage of fentanyl pills testing positive for xylazine slightly decreased from 7% in 2022 to 6% in 2023.
In 2023, the DEA confiscated a staggering amount of fentanyl, comprising 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder and 79.5 million fentanyl pills. This significant seizure highlights the agency’s relentless efforts in combating the illicit distribution of this dangerous substance.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Xylazine has been linked to the development of severe and stubborn skin ulcers and necrotizing wounds. Unfortunately, due to the stigma surrounding this drug, which is also known as tranq, tranq dope, sleep cut, or zombie drug, individuals may hesitate to seek medical attention for these wounds. If left untreated, these wounds can become infected and may even necessitate amputation.
In July 2023, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy unveiled a strategy aimed at decreasing the number of xylazine-related fatalities by 15% across the majority of the nation. The strategy places emphasis on various aspects, including rigorous testing, comprehensive data collection, evidence-based approaches to prevention, harm reduction, and treatment, reducing the supply, and promoting further research. The objective is to achieve a 15% reduction in xylazine-related drug poisoning deaths by 2025, as compared to the baseline year of 2022, in at least three out of four regions defined by the U.S. census.
