Massachusetts authorities warn as spike seen in overdoses on animal tranquilizer resistant to Narcan

WOBURN – Law Enforcement in Middlesex County, specifically in Greater Lowell, have seen several overdoses of suspected Xylazine in recent weeks. Xylazine is a commonly used drug for veterinarians and zookeepers. It is an animal tranquilizer and can be extremely dangerous, especially when used with opioids.

Because Xylazine is not an opiate, its effects cannot be reversed by Naloxone, more commonly known as Narcan. Although the effects of xylazine are not reversed with Narcan, it is still vital to administer Narcan as soon as possible to mitigate any effects of the opiates that were most likely taken in combination with the Xylazine. It is important to note that different results should be expected following the administration of the Narcan.

Once Xylazine has been ingested and Narcan has been administered, it is common for the user to not wake up, as the sedating effects of the Xylazine are still occurring in the body. If you have administered Narcan, and the user is still not breathing, you can administer assisted breathing through Respiratory Assist Devices or through mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The most important thing to do is to call 911, so that they may begin life-saving measures as soon as possible.

In recent years the drug has transformed into a cheap and addictive adulterant to illicit and dangerous drugs, most commonly fentanyl. This combination of the two drugs is known in the drug trade as “tranq-dope”, and its effects can be life-threatening as it puts users at a higher risk of overdose. When taken, Xylazine reduces breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, and can cause chemical burn-like ulcerations and flesh wounds.

The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has already trained law enforcement partners on this dangerous drug and distributed thousands of xylazine test strips to police, fire departments and community partners, which are used to detect whether a certain drug contains any amount of xylazine.