What Is Xylazine And Why Is It Causing Global Mayhem?

Originally a veterinary tranquilizer, Xylazine has emerged as a deadly adulterant in the illicit opioid supply.

Xylazine is a drug that was originally developed as a veterinary tranquillizer but has become a dangerous and deadly adulterant in the illicit opioid supply. Xylazine is not an opioid, but it induces similar effects, such as sedation, slowed breathing, and lowered blood pressure.

When mixed with fentanyl or heroin, xylazine can increase the risk of overdose and death, as well as cause serious skin and tissue infections. Xylazine has been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide and has been seized in 48 out of 50 states by the U.S.

It was first identified as an adulterant in heroin supplies in Puerto Rico in the early 2000s and later spread to other parts of the US, especially Philadelphia, where it was found in over 90% of the city’s lab-tested dope samples in 2021.

Xylazine is often added to fentanyl or heroin by drug dealers or manufacturers, either to enhance or prolong the opioid effects or to cut costs and increase profits. Users may not be aware that xylazine is in their drugs, or may seek it out for its sedative or anti-withdrawal properties.

However, the drug can have devastating consequences for users, both in the short and long term.

It can cause a coma-like state in users, making them vulnerable to injury, infection, or assault. Xylazine can also interfere with the effectiveness of naloxone, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, making it harder to revive users who have taken too much.

Xylazine can also damage the skin and soft tissues, leading to ulcers, abscesses, and gangrene, which may require amputation or surgery. Xylazine can also affect the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain, causing organ failure or neurological problems.

In the UK, a 43-year-old man has become the first known victim of the flesh-rotting “zombie” drug xylazine in Europe. Identified by British media as Karl Warburton, he passed away in his home in May 2022.

However, it was only recently recognised that he was likely the UK’s first victim of xylazine following a study released this week by researchers at King’s College London (KCL).