Xylazine: The Drug Taking the World By Storm: What You Need to Know

Xylazine has taken the world by storm and proactive strategies are urgently needed to combat its negative impacts on population health. Xylazine is an unscheduled non-opioid indicated as a veterinary tranquilizer, also known as "Tranq." This drug is commonly used in combination with other drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine. Xylazine can be used orally, intranasally, sniffed, smoked, and injected, but is mostly used intravenously. Adverse effects of xylazine are secondary to central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular, and respiratory function depression. When alpha-2-receptors in the cardiovascular and respiratory systems are stimulated, physiological effects include bradycardia, hypotension, and respiratory and CNS depression. There are currently no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved medications for the treatment of xylazine withdrawal or reversal of its overdose. Therefore, it is imperative that health care providers are trained to recognize these signs and symptoms and intervene proactively.