Erin Riley Professor Pfund PSYCH 218 25 April 2024.
The Xylazine Crisis: An Exploration of its Impact on Opioid Users The illicit drug market has undergone significant changes in recent years, specifically with both natural and synthetic opioid use. Following the opioid crisis, many illicit drug manufacturers started using adulterants such as fentanyl to increase the effects and profit margins of their products. Recently, a new dangerous adulterant called xylazine, otherwise known as “tranq” or “zombie drug” has been infiltrating the drug supply in both the U.S. and abroad. In this paper, I will explore the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of xylazine ingestion in those who use opioids. In the late 1990s, aggressive marketing and over-prescription…show more content… If an individual takes a drug mixture with an opioid like heroin mixed with xylazine, administering naloxone will only reverse the effects of the heroin, not the xylazine. Furthermore, if a first responder (or the patient themselves) does not know xylazine was ingested, they won't know to perform extra life-saving measures besides naloxone. Since xylazine is most commonly mixed with opioids, naloxone is the main form of treatment in the case of an overdose, however, there are no drugs that currently target xylazine. While naloxone is ineffective in reversing the effects of a xylazine overdose, other treatments are being developed. Chemical biologists at The Scripps Research Institute are currently testing a vaccine that would block the effects of xylazine, and work similarly to naloxone. This vaccine has been successful in rodents so far, and the research team involved in its development hopes that it will lead to an effective treatment for xylazine overdose in humans. The team also hopes to build off this current work to create a treatment that will target both fentanyl and xylazine at once, something that would be greatly beneficial for…show more content… These test strips are not commonly used as the legality of them is extremely inconsistent across the U.S., with many states banning drug test strips completely, and arguing that they are drug paraphernalia (typically with the exception of fentanyl test strips). Furthermore, many states where it is legal to use drug test strips do not have strips that test for xylazine. While these test strips are still illegal in many states, changes are being made. Just last month (March 2024), the governor of Wisconsin signed a bill that would decriminalize the use of xylazine test strips, which is just one of the many steps being taken by lawmakers and public officials to combat this crisis. The appearance of xylazine as an adulterant in illicit opioids highlights the complex nature of substance use and its associated risks. By using a comprehensive approach to look at xylazine use in individuals who abuse opioids, we gain insight into the urgent need to develop treatments and provide harm-reducing care for these individuals. As xylazine continues to spread and be identified as the cause of many illicit drug overdoses, ongoing research, education, and policy advocacy, are essential to reduce the harms associated with this crisis and provide better
