Xylazine has not been approved for human use. It has heavy sedative effects like an opioid but isn't one, so it doesn't respond to the opioid overdose antidote, naloxone, also known as Narcan.
Fentanyl is a fast-acting opioid, and people who use it illicitly say that adding xylazine can extend the duration of the high. However, xylazine is associated with severe soft-tissue wounds and necrosis -- sometimes described as rotting skin -- that can lead to amputation.
Despite reports about the alarming rise of xylazine, also called a "zombie drug," federal law enforcement has not had the tools to regulate it. "We urge Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act quickly as it strikes the right balance of protecting our communities while preserving veterinary access to this critically important animal drug," Teller said.
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