Xylazine Smuggling Emerges as Growing Threat Across U.S.

Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer known as a 'zombie drug,' is increasingly being smuggled across the U.S. southern border, raising alarms among health officials and researchers. Studies indicate that xylazine is often mixed with fentanyl, enhancing its lethality; the Drug Enforcement Agency reported that in 2022, 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills contained xylazine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted a significant rise in xylazine's presence in opioid-related deaths, jumping from 2.9% in January 2019 to 10.9% in June 2022. Health experts warn that xylazine does not respond to naloxone, complicating overdose responses, and its use can lead to severe health complications such as devastating abscesses. As its prevalence spreads from areas like Tijuana into the U.S., public health measures are being intensified, including monitoring and restrictions on xylazine imports. Efforts to raise awareness and provide testing resources are underway to combat this escalating crisis.