There is a new drug in town that is making health experts and police extremely afraid. The drug is called xylazine, or tranq, and it is used to calm down animals.
It is also being used to cut heroin and fentanyl. The drug has terrible effects on people’s bodies, like making cuts rot, slowing down breathing, and raising the risk of overdose. Narcan, a drug that can reverse an overdose, can’t work with this drug either, which makes it even more dangerous.
People have been found with Tranq in 48 states. It is most common in big places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.
let’s talk about where tranq comes from, what it does, how dangerous it is, and what can be done to stop it from spreading.
What is Tranq and Where Did It Come From?
Xylazine is a drug that is allowed by the Food and Drug Administration for use in animals. It is sold on the street under the name Tranq. This drug is used to put down big animals like cows and horses before surgery or other treatments.
But it’s not healthy for people to eat because it can lead to dangerous side effects like low blood pressure, a slow heart rate, and weak muscles. Tranq can also be addicting and show signs of withdrawal like sleeplessness, shaking, and anxiety.
Tranq first showed up in the US in the early 2000s. It was used by heroin addicts in Puerto Rico as a cheap and strong way to boost their high. It was also called anesthesia de caballo, which means “horse medicine.” Tranq then made its way to the mainland.
In 2008, it was found in heroin samples in Philadelphia. Also, tranq has been found in other opioids since then, like fentanyl, a man-made drug that is 50 to 100 times stronger than heroin. Tranq is occasionally sold by itself or mixed with other drugs, like cocaine.
The Drug Enforcement Administration says that tranq has been found in 48 of the 50 states. It is most popular in the Northeast and West. In March 2023, the DEA sent out a public safety report saying that Tranq is making fentanyl, the most dangerous drug in the country, even more dangerous.
The DEA also said that tranq is not on the list of banned substances for people or animals. This makes it hard to police and punish people who use it.
What Are the Effects of Tranq on the Human Body?
People who have disorders with drugs are drawn to tranq because it makes painkiller highs stronger and last longer. However using it raises the risk of overdose and death because it slows down breathing and heart rate, making users less sensitive to naloxone, which is usually used to reverse an overdose.
Also, tranq does a lot of damage to the skin that can’t be fixed. It causes gangrene around injection sites, which can cause infections, sores, and in the worst cases, amputation or septic shock.
What can be done to stop the spread of tranq?
Tranq is a challenging problem that needs a thorough and coordinated response from a wide range of stakeholders, including health professionals, law enforcement, lawmakers, researchers, and community members. Some possible options include:
1. Increasing awareness and education: Tranq must be recognized and understood as a severe threat to public health and safety, and the public must be informed and taught about its hazards and impacts.
Media campaigns, social media, outreach initiatives, and peer education can all be used to accomplish this. Users must be informed of the hazards associated with tranq, as well as how to prevent, identify, and treat overdose.
Users must also be informed of the available options and services, including harm reduction, treatment, and rehabilitation.
2. Increasing testing and surveillance: Tranq must be discovered and monitored using reliable and accurate procedures, and data must be shared and evaluated by appropriate institutions and organizations.
This can be accomplished through the expansion and improvement of drug testing, toxicology, and surveillance systems, as well as the development and validation of novel tests and technologies.
This can aid in identifying and tracking the origins, distribution, and trends of tranq, as well as informing preventative and intervention methods.
3. Increased regulation and enforcement: Tranq must be controlled and limited by proper rules and regulations, and offenders must be prosecuted and punished by effective and consistent procedures.
This can be accomplished by designating tranq as a prohibited drug for both animals and people, as well as implementing tougher penalties for its possession, distribution, and importation.
This may also be accomplished via increasing international collaboration and coordination, as well as disrupting and destroying tranq supply chains and networks.
4. Increasing treatment and recovery choices: Tranq users must be supported and aided by treatment and recovery alternatives that are accessible and inexpensive, and their physical, mental, and social needs must be addressed and satisfied.
This can be accomplished through the expansion and enhancement of treatment and rehabilitation services such as medication-assisted treatment, behavioral therapy, and peer support.
This can also be accomplished by eliminating stigma and prejudice, as well as fostering compassion and respect for transgender people.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the spread of Tranq, a dangerous drug that is now found in 48 states, needs a comprehensive reaction.
It was first used to calm animals, but its effects on human health and the fact that it makes drugs like fentanyl even more dangerous need to be looked at right away. To stop its growth, we need more people to know about it, better tests, stricter rules, and a wide range of treatment choices.
Health experts, police, lawmakers, researchers, and communities need to work together to solve this urgent public health disaster and lessen its terrible effects.