COURT HOUSE – Recently, the indictments, as published weekly in the Herald, have increasingly mentioned the presence of xylazine as part of the drug mix in possession of controlled dangerous substances indictments. Xylazine, when mixed with fentanyl, is a combination also known as “tranq.”
Xylazine is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer. It is not approved for human use. The drug is most often part of a mix with heroin or fentanyl.
In April, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) designated fentanyl that has been adulterated or associated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the U.S. The National Institute of Drug Abuse says that individuals report using fentanyl and xylazine together to lengthen the euphoric effects.
A major danger in overdose situations is that xylazine is not an opioid and does not respond to naloxone. State statistics show that drug overdose deaths in New Jersey are at their lowest level since pre-pandemic days. This is not due to fewer overdoses but rather to the widespread use of naloxone by first responders. Xylazine in the mix complicates that progress.
The illicit use of xylazine first became an issue in New Jersey in 2018. This year, the increasing presence of the drug has set off alerts.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put out an alert to health care professionals concerning risks to patients exposed to xylazine in illicit drugs. According to the FDA, “Xylazine is not safe for use in humans and may result in serious and life-threatening side effects that appear to be similar to those commonly associated with opioid use, making it difficult to distinguish opioid overdoses from xylazine exposure.”
Exposure can also lead to “severe, necrotic skin ulcerations.”
The source of the xylazine can be a problem since it can be illicitly produced or diverted from animal drug supply.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), xylazine is increasingly seen in drug overdose deaths. Using death certificates dating back to 2018, studies found the rate of drug overdose deaths involving xylazine increased by over 340%.
In July of this year, the ONDCP issued a response plan to address the emerging threat of fentanyl combined with xylazine. The response plan focuses on six “pillars of action.” These are testing, data collection, evidence-based prevention and treatment, supply reduction, scheduling, and finally research.
A bill introduced March 30 (S118) by state Sen. Vincent Polistina (R-2nd) directs the New Jersey Department of Health to increase public awareness of xylazine and its harmful effects.
Contact the author, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
