The Food and Drug Administration is beefing up efforts to ensure that xylazine, an animal sedative known as “tranq,” is not diverted to the illicit drug supply.
The FDA said under a new import alert, shipments of xylazine ingredients and finished doses will be subject to increased scrutiny. Agency staff will be empowered to detain shipments if they appear to violate the law.
Drug users are increasingly adding xylazine to opioid drugs to extend the euphoria they get from a high. However, the drug is causing nasty skin abscesses and ulcers, sometimes resulting in amputations. “The FDA remains concerned about the increasing prevalence of xylazine mixed with illicit drugs, and this action is one part of broader efforts the agency is undertaking to address this issue,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said this week. “We will continue to use all tools at our disposal and partner with the Drug Enforcement Administration and other federal, state, local agencies and stakeholders as appropriate to stem these illicit activities and protect public health.
The agency is cracking down as the U.S. contends with a drug-overdose crisis that kills more than 100,000 people per year.
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