Local News

Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, showing up in overdose deaths

By Patrick Damp

September 3, 2022 / 1:39 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

CBS News Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - A new drug is popping up in overdose deaths in the northeast, including here in Pennsylvania.

More than a quarter of the overdoses in the state are linked to an animal tranquilizer.

It's called Xylazine and it's being added to opioids.

Because it's not an opioid, the overdose reversal medication, Naloxone, could be less effective.

Drug Overdose
Overdose

Patrick Damp

Patrick Damp is a web producer for CBS Pittsburgh. A Pittsburgh native who grew up watching KDKA-TV, Patrick studied journalism at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. After half a decade in sports communication, Patrick decided to pursue his dream of working in journalism in his hometown and joined the CBS Pittsburgh team in 2019.