Donald Lyn Frost, a drug therapist, once said: “Drugs take you to hell disguised as heaven.” In modern times, the discussion around marijuana has extended beyond medicine and into politics.
Xylazine, also known as “Tranq” or the new “zombie drug”, is a non-opioid sedative and analgesic (pain reliever) primarily used in veterinary medicine for treating tetanus in animals or as a preoperative drug for surgeries. It is administered to a range of animals, from small household pets to large exotic species. This drug works by activating central presynaptic α2 receptors, producing muscle relaxation in the body (Papich, 2021).
However, when ingested by humans—either accidentally or intentionally—it can dangerously lower blood pressure and slow breathing, potentially leading to death. Despite these risks, xylazine is legally distributed through pharmaceutical suppliers and online platforms catering to veterinarians. Alarmingly, it is also easily accessible on unregulated websites in liquid and powder forms, often without requiring any veterinary credentials (United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022a).
Still, it is merely placed in the closet by veterinarians and away from the umbrella of illegality. Unlike illicit drugs such as heroin and cannabis, this substance keeps a low profile—yet it has silently claimed the lives of over 0.03 per 100,000 people, according to the Vital Statistics Rapid Release (2023). Truly, unlike those mentioned before, one drug managed to escape the cell and be haphazardly intertwined with an innocent Xylazine–Fentanyl. The worst news is, some are devoid that most illicit drugs and counterfeit pills have this mixture.
Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use as an analgesic and anesthetic. It is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as an analgesic (United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022b). When combined with a non-opioid like xylazine it creates a burst of dopamine, the particular chemical that gateway drugs promote. If someone is near an opioid overdose, Naloxone can be administered as a life-saving antidote. But with xylazine in the mix, Naloxone becomes useless—turning this combination into both a powerful addiction and an irreversible poison.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports indicate that the prevalence of xylazine is increasingly spreading beyond the traditional white-powder heroin markets in the northeastern United States where it has been seen for several years. In 2024, the rise of deaths due to xylazine-fentanyl overdose was first acknowledged by the US to be an ‘emerging threat’, and news from other countries remain anonymous despite the continued use of xylazine. Researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) persist in their efforts as drug-related deaths and illicit dealings continue to rise.
In essence, drug abuse shows no signs of stopping—evolving more rapidly from the good than for the good. Xylazine, once a beneficial veterinary medication, has now become the culprit behind an overdose crisis that even fentanyl antidotes cannot reverse.
Works Cited
Hernández, Arelis R. “As Xylazine Surges, Some Lawmakers Want Jail Time for Dealers and People Who Use the Drug.” Pennsylvania Capital-Star, 11 Mar. 2024, https://penncapital-star.com/government-politics/as-xylazine-surges-some-lawmakers-want-jail-time-for-dealers-and-people-who-use-the-drug/.
Jiang, Xiaoyun. “Reported Xylazine Use Among Adults Aged ≥18 Years Evaluated for Substance Use Treatment — United States, July 2022–September 2023.” Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, vol. 73, 2024, https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7326a2.
Papich, Mark G. “Xylazine Hydrochloride.” Veterinary Pharmacology, Elsevier, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-70957-6.00574-4.
rsnadmin. “Xylazine: A Rising Concern.” Principle Diagnostics, 6 July 2023, https://www.principlediagnostics.com/xylazine-a-rising-concern/.
United States Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA Joint Intelligence Report: The Growing Threat of Xylazine and Its Mixture with Illicit Drugs. Dec. 2022a, https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/The%20Growing%20Threat%20of%20Xylazine%20and%20its%20Mixture%20with%20Illicit%20Drugs.pdf.
United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Fentanyl. U.S. Department of Justice, Oct. 2022b, https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl.
About the Author
My name is Xiu Ann, I’m a senior STEM student from the Philippines currently studying pathology. I have published a research about geodetic engineering science , and a few research synthesis from our school. I hope this article has spread knowledge, and helps in creating a cause of movement for the people searching for a truth.
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