- Alarming increase in deaths linked to xylazine in the US
- White House issues six-point action plan to combat the crisis
- Xylazine-fentanyl mixtures pose a grave threat and are more lethal than fentanyl alone
Xylazine (Tranq), sometimes laced with fentanyl, has expanded rapidly across the US and decimated communities. It has been labeled a “grave threat” by Biden’s White House. In May, the first drug-related fatality was reported in the United Kingdom.
A chemical that causes skin rot is connected to a shocking rise in U.S. street deaths.
Xylazine, also known as Tranq or the undead drug, has spread throughout the United States at such an alarming rate that the White House has issued a new six-point action plan to combat the crisis.
Drug dealers “cut” the animal tranquillizer into fentanyl, which kills over 100,000 Americans each year.
The percentage of fentanyl-related deaths where xylazine was detected has increased from 2.9% to 10.9% per month, a 276% increase, according to the most recent data from 20 US states and the District of Columbia.
Dr. Raul Gupta, director of national drug control policy at the White House, revealed the new statistics and announced the action plan, stating, “This administration recognizes the grave threat that fentanyl combined with xylazine poses to our nation.”
The most recent statistics are stark, and startling, and suggest that the animal tranquilizer that causes rotting skin is now firmly established in the American drug market.
During the twelve months ending in January, 109,000 Americans perished of drug overdoses. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl caused nearly seven out of ten of these deaths, and xylazine was implicated in more.
In 48 of the 50 states, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has seized xylazine-fentanyl mixtures. In 2022, 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl tablets contained xylazine, according to DEA laboratories.
Dr. Gupta elaborated on the magnitude of the crisis, stating, “As a physician, I’ve never seen one this bad, on this scope… I visited the wound care clinic in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, one of the hardest-hit communities in the country.
He added, “What I want everyone to realize is that fentanyl combined with xylazine is even more lethal than fentanyl alone.”
The neighborhoods of Philadelphia
Xylazine sellers were cutting off opioid users’ supply on Kensington blocks.
We saw gaping cuts, rotting skin, and outreach workers overwhelmed by the problem.
Four months after our visit, one of the volunteers we met told us that the situation has significantly deteriorated.
“Because of their addiction, the hospitals cannot keep the patients comfortable long enough to control their wounds,” Ronnie Kaiser told me.
The user can self-admit or be taken to the hospital when xylazine lesions progress. However, their desire for another “hit” is frequently greater than their awareness that their ailments require treatment. Addiction is a ruthless and vicious cycle.
There are always new individuals, some we haven’t seen in years, and some who have passed away. Ronnie said.
The six-point White House plan
The new six-point plan, according to the White House’s domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden, aims to “aggressively expand access to prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery support for those with substance use disorders. And [take] bold measures to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs, particularly fentanyl, which is causing damage to communities and the entire nation.”
The plan, which was released on Tuesday, concentrates on six action pillars: testing, data collection, evidence-based prevention, harm reduction/treatment, supply reduction, scheduling (drug classification), and research.
Dr. Gupta, director of drug policy at the White House, stated, “We’re calling on Congress to fully fund President Biden’s historic $46.1bn (£35.7bn) budget request for national drug control programs, including key funding to address illicit fentanyl and emerging threats like xylazine.”
The response from the streets
Ronnie, who heads the Philadelphia-based charity Angels in Motion, applauded the federal government’s recognition of the crisis’s severity.
“Perhaps consciousness is now present. “It’s encouraging that solutions are being considered,” she stated.
However, she questioned the feasibility of the proposals. Test strips? Why? Do they believe the drug supplier will accept the bag back if it tests positive?”
She stated, “We need more assistance with prevention, harm reduction, rehabilitation, and recovery homes – these should be the solution immediately.”
“Those of us on the ground are aware that these items are required. Unfortunately, I believe funding flows primarily to certain individuals and not so much to those on the ground.”
She drew attention to the enduring American issue of medical insurance and ‘for-profit’ medical facilities. Even homeless addicts must negotiate the country’s intricate healthcare system to recover.
“We need federal rehabs, federal recovery houses, the ability for longer rehab stays, and definitely for all insurances to be accepted at all rehabs,” she stated.
“We require this to eliminate all ‘for profit’ businesses. There are recovery homes that are so bad that they kick individuals out if they cannot find a job quickly enough to pay.”
Too late for the U.S.
Dr. Andrew Best, the director of substance abuse prevention and harm reduction in Philadelphia, warned in February that cities across the United States should prepare for xylazine and urged the federal government to do more.
“There is no state or federal funding available at this time,” he told. “I don’t want this problem to spread to other cities.”
In May, the first fatality in the United Kingdom associated with xylazine was reported.
The Biden administration has also announced its intention to disrupt the importation of fentanyl and xylazine. The precursor products originate in China and are predominantly converted into tablet or powder form by traffickers in Mexico.
Given the ever-increasing supply of xylazine-adulterated fentanyl, it is now feared that it will spread to other sectors of society.
