The alarming rise in deaths caused by a dangerous street drug in America has raised concerns. According to an official report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overdose deaths related to xylazine have increased by over 15 times in the past three years. The report focused on 20 states and the District of Columbia, but it is believed that the actual number of deaths involving this potent animal tranquilizer is much higher.
Xylazine has become prevalent in the illicit drug market as a cutting agent, making drugs appear more potent than they actually are. It is often combined with fentanyl, creating a deadly cocktail that not only damages users’ skin from within but also leaves them in a zombie-like state. The CDC report reveals that monthly overdose deaths involving xylazine rose from 12 in January 2019 to 188 in June 2022. Additionally, monthly fentanyl overdoses involving xylazine increased by 276 percent over three years.
The availability of xylazine is a major concern. It can be easily obtained online for as little as $6, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. This has contributed to the prevalence of syringes, garbage, and homeless encampments on the streets of Kensington, where addicts openly deal and use drugs.
The CDC report is supported by increased seizures by the Drug Enforcement Administration at the southern border, which is the main entry point for fentanyl and xylazine into the country. The CDC relied on data from the State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) for their study. However, the limited number of jurisdictions considered suggests that the actual number of deaths involving xylazine is underestimated.
In 2020, reports indicated that xylazine played a role in 808 drug overdoses, but this number increased to 3,089 in 2021. The authors of the study acknowledged that the increase in detection of xylazine may be due to both increased testing frequency and its increased presence in the drug supply. However, inconsistent testing means that the detection of xylazine-related deaths is still likely underestimated.
The CDC researchers found that the proportion of monthly fatal fentanyl overdoses involving xylazine increased by 276 percent from January 2019 to June 2022, from 2.9 percent to 10.9 percent. The number of deaths involving both fentanyl and xylazine rose from 12 to 188 during this period. From January 2021 to June 2022, the researchers expanded their scope to include data from 31 states and the District of Columbia. During this time, xylazine was detected in nine percent of fentanyl overdoses.
States in the Northeast have the highest rates of fentanyl overdoses involving xylazine in post-mortem tests, with a rate of nearly 50 percent. States like Maryland, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania reported the highest number of fentanyl deaths involving xylazine.
Xylazine was originally developed for veterinary use and is not intended for humans. It works by relaxing animals’ muscles and relieving pain. Although it is not an opioid, it is often mixed with opioids like fentanyl to enhance their effects. It reduces the number of injections an addict needs and makes treatment with naloxone more challenging.
Healthcare providers and naloxone users may struggle to recognize the effects of xylazine or differentiate them from fentanyl misuse. Xylazine can leave users unconscious on the streets for hours, and its effects, such as constricted blood vessels and deep skin lesions, can lead to serious infections and complications.
The increasing presence of xylazine in the illicit drug market calls for immediate attention and intervention. Better awareness and understanding of its effects, along with improved access to naloxone and addiction treatment, are crucial in combating this growing issue.
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