This week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) alerted the public to the noticeable rise of xylazine, a non-opioid agent increasingly found in combination with opioids such as fentanyl. Known by its street name, “tranq” or “tranq dope,” the drug is approved only for veterinary use; in humans, the powerful sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant can depress breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature to critical levels. The overdose antidote naloxone does not reverse its effects. Additionally, people who inject drugs containing xylazine can develop severe skin wounds that easily become infected and, if left untreated, may lead to amputation.
