The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a warning about the alarming rise in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, a potent sedative approved for veterinary use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Administrator Milgram of the DEA emphasized that xylazine is making fentanyl, already a deadly drug threat, even more dangerous. The DEA has discovered mixtures of xylazine and fentanyl in 48 out of 50 states, with approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA containing xylazine.
The combination of xylazine and fentanyl poses a higher risk of fatal drug poisoning for users. Unlike opioids, xylazine’s effects cannot be reversed by naloxone (Narcan), although it is still recommended to administer naloxone in cases of suspected drug poisoning. Individuals injecting drug mixtures with xylazine may develop severe wounds, including tissue necrosis, which can lead to the need for amputation.
According to the CDC, between August 2021 and August 2022, drug poisonings resulted in the deaths of 107,735 Americans, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl being involved in 66% of those cases. The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel in Mexico are primarily responsible for trafficking fentanyl into communities across the United States, often sourcing chemicals from China.
The FDA has recently alerted healthcare providers about the risks to patients exposed to xylazine in illicit drugs, emphasizing the need for awareness and vigilance. The DEA issues Public Safety Alerts to inform the public about emerging threats to their safety and health. The previous alert, issued in September 2021, warned about the increased availability and lethality of fentanyl-laced counterfeit prescription pills. In November 2022, the DEA updated the alert, highlighting that six out of ten fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.
