85% of fentanyl seized in Oakland County contains deadly animal tranquilizer

(Detroit Free Press) The White House and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration have warned against the dangers of a potent animal tranquilizer infiltrating the nation's street drug supply and Friday, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard sounded the alarm locally, saying that up to 85% of the fentanyl his department seizes is now laced with the deadly additive.

Xylazine is approved for use by veterinarians on large animals. But it is showing up in street drugs, most frequently mixed with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Like fentanyl, xylazine is a central nervous system depressant and together, they pack an incredible wallop and increase the odds of overdose.

Unlike fentanyl, xylazine is not an opioid. Naloxone, a drug known as Narcan, that can reverse a opioid overdose, can work on fentanyl but doesn't work on xylazine. And that makes authorities worry that an already record breaking number of overdose deaths — the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates more than 109,000 people across the nation died from drug overdoses in 2022 ― could increase even further into the stratosphere. .................(more)

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2023/06/10/xylazine-oakland-county-michigian-legislation/70306459007/