Xylazine: Public Health warns residents about new drug raising risk of overdose

Public health officials issued a warning surrounding a drug typically used in animals making its way into the illicit opioid scene. 

According to the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, xylazine, which is typically used as a sedative and muscle relaxant for animals, has been discovered in drug samples confiscated by authorities in San Francisco and San Diego, meaning that it is "now likely present within the drug supply" in LA. 

So far this year, officials said four people have overdosed and died in San Francisco because of drugs mixed with xylazine and fentanyl.

"The main reason that the Department of Public Health wanted to send out the alert is because of this emerging substance called xylazine that could increase overdose risk," said Dr. Gary Tsai, with DPH's Substance Abuse Prevention and Control. "In particular, increase overdose risk during what is currently the worst overdose crisis in history."

While xylazine is typically a clear liquid, it can be cooked down into a powder so it can be mixed with illicit opioids like heroin and fentanyl. The animal tranquilizer can also be pressed into counterfeit pills made to resemble Norco, Percocet and Vicodin as well as sedatives like Xanax. 

Illicit dealers use xylazine as a cheap additive to heighten the effects of their drugs. However, when the animal tranquilizer is used with opioids and other central nervous system depressants, like alcohol, it increases sedation and respiratory depression which can lead to a fatal overdose. 

"When it's combined with something like an opioid, that slows down and ultimately can stop someone's breathing, combining a sedative on top of that high-potency opioid can be very, very dangerous," Tsai said. 

Xylazine is know to worsen any skin infections like wounds, large sores and ulcers, granting it the nickname as the "zombie drug."

There is currently no way to detect xylazine or treat an overdose caused by the drug, as Narcan, or naxalone, only works on opioid overdoses.

"One way for recreational drug users, if you're using something like cocaine, or MDMA or methamphetamine, to try to avoid xylazine is using a fentanyl test strip, because they are so often concurrently mixed," said Madeline Hilliard, an EMT and founder of non-profit organization Team Awareness Combatting Overdose (TACO), who work to prevent accidental overdoses through education and by providing harm-reduction supplies to college campuses. "And also, of course, you are avoiding fentanyl, which is much more lethal than xylazine."

The Public Health Department recommends residents avoid taking illicit drugs. However, if you plan to use illicit drugs, the department recommends you start with incremental doses to avoid death. 

According to officials, xylazine overdoses appear to be similar to opioid overdoses:

• Excessive sedation and appearing unresponsive
• Slowed breathing
• Slowed heart rate
• Low blood pressure
• Cold, clammy skin

The LA County Public Health Department has a plethora of resources for those battling drug addiction. If you need help, click here. Those seeking help can also contact the Substance Abuse Service Helpline at (844) 804-7500