Why Illicit Xylazine is a Threat To Your Community
June 8, 2023 | Pharmaceutical Waste Disposal
What is Xylazine?
Xylazine is a potent sedative and muscle relaxant that is used in veterinary medicine to sedate and immobilize animals for medical procedures.
In animals, xylazine is primarily used to sedate and immobilize them for medical procedures such as surgery, dental work, or diagnostic tests. Its effects on animals may include:
- Sedation and relaxation
- Reduced heart rate and blood pressure
- Muscle relaxation and loss of coordination
- Reduced respiratory rate
When used in humans, xylazine can produce a range of physical effects, including:
- Coma
- Seizures
- Cardiac arrest
Is Xylazine dangerous for human use and can it be reversed?
Xylazine is approved for animal use, but is not approved for human use, and has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide in the evolving drug addiction and overdose crisis.
Because xylazine is a sedative and not an opioid, it resists standard opioid overdose reversal treatments, such as Narcan. Illicit use of xylazine in humans can cause respiratory depression, seizures, and even death.
There have been reports of xylazine causing tissue damage and affected tissue is appearing black, this is thought to be related to its vasoconstrictive effects, which reduces blood flow to the affected area. The tissue damage may be severe enough to require amputation.
Xylazine and Fentanyl
Xylazine known as “tranq” and “zombie drug” is being used as an additive of illicit fentanyl laced opioids. Like an opioid, xylazine can depress the respiratory system, so the risk of overdose multiplies when it’s combined with heroin or fentanyl. Xylazine reportedly makes a drug high last longer. It is cheaper and easier to make than fentanyl and the other drugs it is mixed with. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports the widespread increased threat as users may be completely unaware if the drug has xylazine in it.
“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said DEA Administrator 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.” The impact of fentanyl laced with xylazine is a growing issue in every region nationally.
This year, the Biden administration announced that the President has called on Congress to invest $46.1 billion for agencies overseen by the Office of National Drug Control Policy to tackle the nation’s illicit drug crisis.
View our blog on Combatting the National Opioid Crisis
Prevent Xylazine Use with Rx Destroyer
Xylazine is similar to the drugs Ketamine and Clonidine. Of note, naloxone does not work with these drugs so, if these drugs are abused or an overdose occurs, attempts to reverse the effects with naloxone will not work.
The activated charcoal (aka: “Activated Carbon”) in RXD adsorbs Xylazine and renders it irretrievable. Recommended treatment for overdose of Xylazine in part includes the use of activated charcoal, so according to current research and current medical practice activated carbon, Rx Destroyer is effective at adsorbing Xylazine.
For more information about Xylazine and support, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357), or visit online at:
