Xylazine, commonly referred to as "tranq," has become a prevalent cutting agent in drugs like heroin, cocaine, and meth, unbeknownst to users.
The consequences of using tranq can be devastating, with users experiencing flesh-eating lesions and a surge in drug overdose deaths.
The drug's presence in the illicit drug supply has prompted concerns among public health officials, who are grappling with how to address this emerging epidemic.
Melanie Cox, a 51-year-old mother of three, shared her harrowing experience with tranq. What began as a hot, puffy spot on her hand, where she had been injecting heroin for nearly two decades, quickly escalated into a grotesque, brownish-green lesion.
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Cox revealed that it was the tranq, not the heroin, that had caused her flesh to deteriorate. She described the sensation of her hand emitting heat and the drug eating away at her flesh beneath the skin.
July 05, 2023
Similar stories of tranq-related illnesses and deaths are emerging across the country. Xylazine has found its way into various drugs, including pills like Xanax and other sedatives and painkillers.
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This means that users who believe they are consuming one drug may unknowingly be ingesting tranq as well.
The Visiting Nurse Association Health Group in Asbury Park, New Jersey, reported that every client they tested had traces of tranq in their urine.
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The drug's omnipresence has left healthcare workers bewildered and addicts reeling from its devastating effects.
July 05, 2023
The rise in tranq-related deaths is alarming. According to a report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of drug overdose deaths involving xylazine in 2021 was 35 times higher than it was just three years earlier.
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In 2018, only 102 people died from tranq-related overdoses. By 2021, that number had skyrocketed to 3,468. The CDC report highlighted that tranq is frequently combined with fentanyl, creating a deadly combination that puts users at a higher risk of fatal drug poisoning.
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Dr. Ian Wittman, the chief of service for the emergency department at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, explained that tranq can cause severe sedation, low blood pressure, and addiction.
Users often experience a state of lumbering semi-consciousness, leading to the drug's nickname, the "zombie drug."
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Tranq poses additional dangers, as it does not respond to naloxone, the overdose-reversal drug commonly known as Narcan. This means that if someone overdoses on tranq, friends and family cannot revive them. The drug can also induce psychosis, causing users to experience hallucinations, paranoia, and delusions.
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Kaitlyn Fiumenero, a 35-year-old certified nursing assistant, shared her firsthand experience with tranq. As a crack cocaine addict, she often smokes tranq as a consequence.
Fiumenero described how the drug twisted her reality, leading her to fall into a stupor and wake up in a New York City hospital bed.
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She recounted feeling like a zombie, running around without shoes and experiencing drug-induced psychosis.
Despite the negative effects, Fiumenero expressed the difficulty of obtaining crack cocaine without tranq, highlighting the pervasive nature of the drug in the illicit market.
Public health officials are struggling to address this emerging epidemic. Dr. Wittman acknowledged that the public health and emergency medicine communities are still learning how to best tackle this new threat.
Tranq's presence in the drug market continues to expand, with Philadelphia being the epicenter of the crisis. The city reported that over 90% of tested dope samples in 2021 contained xylazine.
Disturbing footage from Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood showed rows of individuals in a zombie-like state, highlighting the dangers of tranq use. Users in this state often become targets for robbers, leading to further harm and victimization.
Tranq's reach extends beyond Philadelphia. It has flooded Florida's Orange County, causing 150 overdoses and nine fatalities in the past 18 months. The drug has also made its way to California, appearing in counties such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Clara, and San Joaquin.
Xylazine, a powerful veterinary tranquilizer, has somehow found its way into the illicit drug supply, wreaking havoc on individuals struggling with addiction.
The rising death toll associated with tranq has prompted the White House to designate the fentanyl/xylazine blend as an "emerging threat." This designation requires the federal government to develop a comprehensive strategy to address the issue.
Bridget Brennan, New York City's special narcotics prosecutor, emphasized the need for state and federal lawmakers to take action. She called for usage and distribution restrictions on tranq, which is not currently considered a controlled dangerous substance.
Until then, individuals must recognize the dangers of the current drug supply, regardless of the illicit product they are using.
The prevalence of tranq in the drug market has created a public health crisis that demands immediate attention. The devastating effects of the drug, including flesh-eating lesions, psychosis, and a surge in overdose deaths, highlight the urgency of addressing this issue.
Public health officials are working to understand and combat this emerging threat, but the widespread presence of tranq continues to claim lives and wreak havoc on communities.
It is crucial for lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to come together to develop comprehensive strategies to combat the tranq epidemic and protect vulnerable individuals from its deadly consequences.
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