What is Xylazine?

"Xylazine, also called “tranq” or “tranq dope,” is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer. Although not approved by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration for human use, xylazine is increasingly being identified as an adulterant in illicitly manufactured fentanyl and heroin, and occasionally in other drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine in the US [1, 2]. Xylazine overdose has no known antidote and can cause central nervous system and respiratory depression, hypotension, and bradycardia in humans [3, 4]. This has led to concern that xylazine could worsen the cardiorespiratory depressive effects and lethality of opioids when the drugs are combined, but its impact on overdose risk and symptoms is still being explored [2, 5–9]. The sedating effects of xylazine, which can last for hours, may also put individuals at greater risk for victimization or injury from assault or exposure to the elements [10]. In addition to its sedating properties, xylazine can also cause severe skin ulcers in humans, regardless of route of use (e.g., injection, smoking, snorting) [2, 11]."