The rise of xylazine is fueling a drug crisis in the United States. Mixing xylazine with fentanyl creates a dangerous combination, known as “Tranq” or “the zombie drug,” that’s more potent and deadlier than fentanyl alone. This mixture has become a growing concern due to its devastating effects, and the crisis hit new heights in 2024 as overdose cases surged across the country.
Xylazine is a veterinary sedative, not approved for human use, yet it’s increasingly found in illegal drugs that people take. When mixed with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid in its own right, xylazine amplifies the drug’s effects. Xylazine also increases the risk of a fatal overdose. A Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) report published in 2024 noted that in 2023, 30% of seized fentanyl powder contained xylazine. In the same year, 70% of overdose deaths in the U.S. involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Taken together, these statistics imply that many Americans die each year from Tranq.
Drug dealers use xylazine because it’s cheap and extends the effects of fentanyl, but it comes at a terrible cost. Users face a high risk of overdose with Tranq as well as long-lasting physical and emotional wounds that don’t heal easily.
What Is Xylazine? Why Is It Dangerous?
Xylazine, a veterinary sedative is primarily used to calm large animals like horses and cattle. Xylazine isn’t approved for human use, but drug dealers now mix it with fentanyl and other street drugs to increase their potency and extend the “high.”
In legitimate applications, veterinarians use xylazine to relieve animals’ pain and keep them under control in dangerous situations, such as surgery or transportation. However, xylazine drug effects on humans are far more harmful. It slows a person’s heart and breathing rates, leading to a higher risk of overdose, especially when combined with opioids. A person’s muscles become extremely relaxed, so they risk falling. People struggling with misuse may show xylazine addiction signs such as:
• Severe drowsiness
• Confusion
• Skin ulcers
• Open sores
Understanding how xylazine affects the body explains why it’s so risky. Short-term effects include heavy sedation, dangerously low blood pressure and slow breathing. Long-term use damages bodily tissues, causing serious wounds that can lead to infections or even amputations. What does xylazine do to the brain and body beyond the physical damage? It impairs brain function, disrupting coordination, speech and memory.
The Rise of Fentanyl in Street Drugs
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine, making it one of the most dangerous substances in common circulation as a recreational drug. Originally developed for severe pain management, fentanyl is now a leading cause of overdose deaths due to its widespread presence in street drugs. Fentanyl-laced drugs are common because fentanyl is cheap, easy to produce and highly addictive.
The dangers of street drugs have escalated with the rise of fentanyl. Many users don’t even realize they’re taking fentanyl until it’s too late. Just a small amount can be deadly, especially when combined with other substances like xylazine or heroin.
The latest fentanyl crisis update shows how serious the situation has become. Fentanyl often appears in counterfeit pills and powders, making it hard to detect.
Why Is Xylazine Being Added to Fentanyl?
Drug dealers mix xylazine with fentanyl to boost the high and extend its effects. Xylazine is a cheap additive, so dealers make more money by diluting fentanyl with it. However, mixing the products to make Tranq renders the drugs far more dangerous.
Street opioids mixed with xylazine raise the risk of fatal overdose and complicate treatment. Naloxone is the standard treatment when someone overdoses on fentanyl. Since xylazine isn’t an opioid, naloxone can’t reverse its effects. This leaves those experiencing a Tranq drug overdose at greater risk of death or severe health complications. It also presents family members, friends and first responders with the challenge of diagnosing whether someone has taken Tranq and not fentanyl alone.
Fentanyl-laced drugs containing xylazine are now spreading throughout the U.S. When you mix fentanyl with xylazine, breathing and heart rate can drop to life-threatening levels in minutes.
The Deadly Effects of the Xylazine-Fentanyl Combination, Tranq
Mixing fentanyl with xylazine creates a deadly combination that severely impacts the body. Xylazine and Tranq drug effects include:
• Extreme sedation
• Dangerously slow breathing
• Low heart rate
Respiratory episodes are common, increasing the chance of a fatal overdose. Even surviving an overdose can leave lasting damage, especially due to how xylazine causes skin ulcers and wounds. Painful sores often develop at injection sites and can become infected, leading to tissue death and, in severe cases, amputation.
Another major danger of Tranq is that it doesn’t respond to naloxone, the lifesaving medication used under the brand name Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses. Since xylazine isn’t an opioid, Narcan addresses only the fentanyl portion of the overdose. Consequently, Tranq users are vulnerable to prolonged respiratory failure if they don’t realize that xylazine is also in the person’s system.
Those who survive often face difficult recoveries and experience intense Tranq drug withdrawal symptoms. Many Tranq users experience:
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Tremors
• Worsening skin infections
Xylazine’s effects on the brain and body compound the challenges, making withdrawal especially harsh. The combination of physical damage and addiction creates a dangerous cycle that’s tough to escape, further fueling the crisis.
Signs of Xylazine and Fentanyl Overdose
Recognizing the signs of xylazine overdose vs fentanyl overdose is critical. Both cause slowed breathing and unconsciousness, but xylazine overdoses often include extreme drowsiness and dangerously low blood pressure. The big giveaway that someone has suffered Tranq exposure, though, is the presence of unusual skin wounds and redness, as you can see in this 2023 article from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Unlike typical opioid overdoses, the symptoms may not fully respond to naloxone.
So, can Narcan treat xylazine overdoses, or is it ineffective? Narcan can reverse fentanyl’s effects but doesn’t work on xylazine. This makes Narcan-resistant drug overdose symptoms especially dangerous. Breathing may not return to normal, and patients can slip back into critical condition after briefly appearing somewhat better. Some individuals don’t snap out of the overdose at all, and this can surprise folks who are familiar with the success of Narcan as an intervention.
First responders and medical professionals must be aware of how to reverse a xylazine overdose. Naloxone should still be administered, but patients need immediate medical attention for respiratory support and wound care, too. Quick action can save lives, but treating xylazine overdoses requires more advanced intervention than normal opioid overdoses.
Harm Reduction: How to Stay Safe From Xylazine and Fentanyl
Reducing the risk of overdose starts with knowing how to identify Tranq among street drugs. Since fentanyl and xylazine are often mixed into other substances without warning, drug testing kits can help detect them. The best way to test for fentanyl and xylazine in drugs is to use fentanyl strips and xylazine drug testing kits, both of which are becoming more widely available through medical organizations and harm reduction programs.
Preventing fentanyl overdoses also involves using other harm-reduction strategies. Always carry naloxone, and never use drugs alone. Test substances before use, and start with a very small amount. These steps can save lives, especially in areas where xylazine- and fentanyl-laced drugs are common.
For those already affected, proper xylazine wound treatment is essential. Skin ulcers caused by xylazine can quickly become serious without care. To reduce the risk of long-term skin damage that can lead to amputation, be sure to:
• Clean wounds promptly.
• Apply antibiotic ointments.
• Seek medical help promptly.
How to Get Help for Fentanyl and Xylazine Addiction
Knowing how to get treatment for fentanyl and xylazine addiction can be the first step toward recovery. Treatment options include medication-assisted treatment (MAT), which uses medications like methadone or buprenorphine to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms for opioid addiction. Although there’s currently no specific medication for xylazine addiction, MAT can still manage the opioid component while providing stability for recovery.
Harm reduction programs are also vital for keeping people safe. These programs offer resources like naloxone distribution, drug testing kits and clean supplies to reduce the risks associated with drug use. Community support initiatives connect individuals with counseling, peer support groups and housing assistance.
If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out to local addiction services, clinics or harm reduction organizations. Recovery is possible with the right support and a combination of medical treatment and community-based care.
Take Action: Get Help for Fentanyl and Xylazine Addiction
The Tranq drug crisis of 2024 has highlighted the deadly combination of fentanyl and xylazine, a growing public health emergency. These substances are fueling overdose rates and causing long-term harm to individuals and communities. A strong state and federal response to the fentanyl-xylazine crisis is underway, but raising awareness remains crucial. Understanding the dangers of unregulated synthetic opioids and how fentanyl impacts public health in the U.S. can help communities take meaningful action.
The best way to prevent fentanyl overdoses in communities is through education, harm reduction and access to treatment. Talking openly about addiction and encouraging those it affects to seek help can save lives. Overcoming fear and stigma is critical. Seeking treatment now allows individuals to rebuild their lives and avoid tragedy.
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plays a vital role in recovery. BAART Programs offer MAT services with:
• Professional support
• Harm reduction resources
• Comprehensive care
If you or someone you love needs help managing withdrawal, BAART Programs provide customized treatment plans in a judgment-free and supportive environment.
BAART Programs facilities are located across the country, offering easy access to recovery resources and compassionate care. If you or a loved one is struggling with fentanyl, xylazine, Tranq or opioids, reach out today. You don’t have to go through this alone because help is available right now at BAART Programs. Contact BAART Programs today to start on your path to recovery.
