Xylazine (also known as ‘tranq’ or ‘zombie drug’) is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer that is most commonly used to sedate horses. While it is FDA-approved for use in animals, it is not safe for use in humans and can result in serious, life-threatening side effects.
Xylazine is often mixed into fentanyl, but it has also been detected in other substances, including cocaine and counterfeit prescriptions.
While xylazine is not an opioid, it is considered a central nervous system depressant that causes drowsiness, amnesia, slow breathing and low heart rate and blood pressure. When used with opioids, benzodiazepines or alcohol, xylazine can lead to a fatal overdose.
Please note: Those who inject substances containing xylazine can develop severe skin wounds and patches of necrotic tissue that can easily become infected and, if left untreated, can be life-threatening. These wounds can develop in areas of the body away from the injection site.
