Explained: What is Xylazine? Flesh-eating 'zombie' medicine fuelling overdoses across US
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Here's everything you need to know about tranq, including why it's referred to as a flesh-eating zombie medicine and how Canada and the United States are trying to regulate it.
A horrific new 'zombie' drug that has devastated cities throughout the United States has been discovered in the United Kingdom and has claimed the life of a British factoryworker.
Karl Warburton, 43, died in May from the effects of xylazine coupled with other narcoticssuch as heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, as reported by Daily Mail.
The West Midlands man died of acute aspiration pneumonitis, a disease commonly caused by breathing pollutants.However, xylazine was recorded as a contributing factor inWarburton's death certificate.
The technicallylegal animal tranquilliser "tranq" is frequently used to cut cocaine, heroin, or fentanyl. As it grows popularity in the illegal drug market, contributing to an increasing number of overdose deaths, states in the United States are increasingly attempting to restrict access to it.
The substance Enforcement Administration and health authorities have issued cautions against using the substance. While the problem is most visible in Los Angeles, Canadian officials have also warned that tranq is making its way onto theirstreets.
Here's everything you need to know about tranq, including why it's referred to as a flesh-eating zombie medicine and how the United States istrying to regulate it.
What is Xylazine?
Xylazine is a veterinary medication that is licenced for use as a sedative in largeanimals. Rompun and Anased are two of its brand names. It is sometimes referred to as a "horse tranquilliser."
It needs a veterinarian licence to buy and use, but it is rapidly appearing in Canada's illicit drug supply, frequently without the user's awareness. Other medicines are cut with xylazine since it is an inexpensive filler that can improve opioid potency.
What effect does tranq have on people?
In humans, xylazine has sedative properties. It alleviates pain, lowers brain activity, and has the potential to lower blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing rate.
People who use xylazine may develop open sores anywhere on their body. These wounds can result in hospitalisation, necrosis (rotting tissue), and even amputation, which is why it is referred to as a zombie drug.
The drug's wounds look to be "eating away your flesh from the inside out," according to nurses who spoke to Stat News.
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Overdoes are also more likely with drugs like fentanyl that have been cut with xylazine. According to Health Canada, xylazine can cause central nervous system depression, respiratory depression, bradycardia, and hypotension in humans, which are comparable to opioid withdrawal symptoms.
When combined with opioids like fentanyl, as is frequently the case, xylazine enhances the life-threatening effect of respiratory depression (slowing or stopping breathing) caused by opioids, increasing the risk of overdose and death, according toLos Angeles public health officials, as reported by the National Post.
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Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 7:23 am