Xylazine in Fentanyl Deaths

Drug overdoses are continuing to increase, largely driven by fentanyl. A recent study shows medication for treating opioid use disorder is underprescribed in the United States, particularly for Black patients. Additionally, xylazine, or “tranq,” is increasingly being mixed with fentanyl. Addiction treatment centers don’t have the expertise to treat the severe wounds xylazine causes, limiting treatment options for people who are addicted.

Xylazine has no known antidote, but naloxone should be administered even if it is suspected to be present because xylazine is usually found in synthetic opioids, which do respond to naloxone. There is a new dual drug test strip that can detect fentanyl and xylazine.