The DEA is raising alarms over the rising presence of a lethal horse tranquilizer, Xylazine, on U.S. streets. Known as the ‘zombie drug,’ Xylazine causes disturbing physical and potentially fatal effects when abused, and has been detected in cities such as San Francisco, Philadelphia, and New York. It’s often mixed with fentanyl to heighten users’ high, creating a deadly cocktail. The DEA reports Xylazine was present in 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized in 2022. Alarmingly, overdose reversal drugs prove ineffective against Xylazine due to its non-opioid nature. Despite its life-threatening effects, Xylazine isn’t federally controlled, enabling wider accessibility. Efforts are underway to reclassify it as a Schedule III drug.
