Xylazine, a non-opioid tranquilizer primarily used for large animals, has been easily traded in the illicit drug market aided by its exclusion from the U.S. Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
Commonly referred to as “tranq” or the “zombie drug,” it is rapidly spreading across the U.S., with reports showing xylazine in the drug supply in 48 of 50 states by late 2022. This inexpensive and easily accessible drug has infiltrated street drugs and was present in 6.7% of drug-related deaths in 2020.
Xylazine causes devastating health consequences, including severe wounds that may require amputation and death by overdose. Its withdrawal symptoms are more intense than those from heroin or methadone. Keep reading to learn more about this emerging health threat and its devastating effects on users.
What is the Zombie Drug?
Xylazine is a potent α-2 adrenergic agonist initially developed for veterinary use as an analgesic and sedative for animals. Although it was designed for animal care, xylazine has increasingly been misused by humans due to its opioid-like sedative and extreme euphoric effects.
Due to this extreme lethargic state, xylazine earned the nickname “zombie drug.” Users often appear in a semi-conscious, trance-like state, showing:
- Severely impaired movement and coordination
- Slow or slurred speech
- Lack of awareness of surroundings
- Inability to respond to external stimuli
- Severe skin ulcers, infections, and tissue necrosis
These physical and mental characteristics are similar to how zombies are depicted in popular culture, a comparison that can further drive stigma against people who use drugs.
Xylazine is often associated with polydrug use, and it is frequently added to drugs like cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl, increasing either their central nervous system depressant effects, potency or street value. Users may inhale, swallow, or inject xylazine.
How Does Zombie Drug Work?
Xylazine works by activating α-2 adrenergic receptors in the central nervous system. This mechanism inhibits the release of norepinephrine and reduces the sympathetic nervous system’s activity, leading to sedation, muscle relaxation, and analgesia.
By depressing the central nervous system, xylazine slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and reduces respiratory function. These effects create a “zombie-like” state, as users experience extreme sedation, impaired motor function, and trance-like immobility.
α-2 adrenergic receptors are also involved in controlling the release of insulin and regulating blood flow. This vasoconstrictive effect causes skin ulcers, infections, and tissue necrosis, especially in individuals who abuse xylazine via injection.
Types of Zombie Drugs
Unfortunately, xylazine is not the only drug in the range of so-called “zombie drugs.” These types of drugs include a range of substances that produce severe, zombie-like effects, including extreme sedation, impaired motor functions, and severe physical harm.
Here are some of the most common examples:
Xylazine vs Fentanyl
The combination of fentanyl and xylazine, known as “tranq-dope,” represents a rapidly emerging and severe public health threat as both substances together exacerbate the risks associated with each drug individually.
Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid and is already one of the deadliest drugs in the country due to its extreme potency and the risk of overdose. In 2022 alone, the DEA Laboratory System found that approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills contained xylazine.
When mixed with xylazine, the sedative effects of fentanyl increase, leading to profound respiratory depression and impaired consciousness, which can be fatal.
Flakka (Alpha-PVP)
Flakka is a synthetic stimulant related to the cathinone family. Its effects on users can be markedly disturbing, often resulting in severe agitation, delirium, and hallucinations.
Consuming flakka can cause extreme behavioral changes, including erratic and violent outbursts and intense paranoia. Even though xylazine and flakka don’t belong to the same drug class, flakka can also cause a “zombie-like” appearance due to its intense effects on mental and physical health.
Xylazine vs Desomorphine
Desomorphine is a synthetic opioid derived from morphine, notorious for its rapid onset and extreme potency. Commonly referred to as “krokodil,” desomorphine can cause severe tissue damage due to the toxic chemicals used during its preparation.
After injection, it often leaves a green, scaly appearance on the skin, which is frequently accompanied by ulceration that can progress to gangrene.
Xylazine and desomorphine are linked to severe and similar physical harm. While xylazine primarily depresses the central nervous system, desomorphine’s opioid effects can lead to intense euphoria followed by rapid physical deterioration.
Bath Salts (Synthetic Cathinones)
Bath salts refer to a group of synthetic cathinones chemically similar to flakka. These substances are potent central nervous system stimulants, often sold as “legal highs” or mislabeled as harmless products.
Bath salts can cause extreme agitation, paranoia, hallucinations, violent behavior, and severe physical side effects, including elevated heart rate and blood pressure. Users often experience intense euphoria, but the drug can also lead to dangerous outcomes such as heart attacks, psychosis, or even death.
Xylazine Side Effects in Humans
Xylazine is highly incompatible with human consumption, leading to severe and dangerous side effects. One reason for the limited understanding of xylazine’s health impacts on humans is that clinical trials were discontinued long ago due to the severe and dangerous zombie drug effects on humans.
Among the most concerning side effects are:
- Severe sedation/impaired consciousness: Users often experience extreme drowsiness and confusion.
- Respiratory depression: Xylazine slows breathing, especially when mixed with opioids like fentanyl.
- Bradycardia and hypotension: The drug causes a significant drop in the heart rate and blood pressure.
- Necrotic skin ulcers: Repeated use leads to severe infections, tissue necrosis, and wounds.
- Limb amputations: Persistent use can cause tissue damage, potentially leading to permanent disfigurement.
- Impaired coordination: Users frequently lose motor control and balance, leading to falls and injuries.
- Cognitive impairments: Prolonged use may result in lasting cognitive deficits (i.e., memory issues)
- Psychological effects: Long-term exposure can lead to mood changes, anxiety, and depression.
- Cardiovascular damage: Continuous use may contribute to long-term cardiovascular problems.
The full extent of xylazine’s long-term health impacts remains unknown, mainly due to the early termination of clinical trials. Still, its widespread misuse underscores the urgency for further research and public health interventions.
Signs of Xylazine Overdose
Xylazine overdose presents a range of life-threatening symptoms due to its profound effects on the central nervous and cardiovascular systems. Research indicates that high doses of tranq-dope can be fatal in mice within as little as 10 minutes, while even lower doses may result in death within 30 minutes.
Recognizing the signs of overdose is critical, especially as xylazine is often mixed with other drugs, complicating its detection and treatment.
Key signs of a xylazine overdose include:
- Severe respiratory depression: Slowed or shallow breathing or complete cessation of breathing.
- Bradycardia: A dangerously slow heart rate, often leading to insufficient blood flow to vital organs.
- Hypotension: Critically low blood pressure, which can lead to shock and organ failure.
- Deep sedation or unconsciousness: Victims may become unresponsive or slip into a coma.
- Hypothermia: Low body temperature due to impaired thermoregulation can worsen other symptoms.
- Cyanosis: Bluish skin, lips, or fingernails discoloration due to lack of oxygen in the blood.
In cases of xylazine overdose, immediate medical intervention is crucial. If someone is suspected of overdosing on xylazine, emergency services should be contacted immediately.
Does Narcan Work on Xylazine?
Sadly, Narcan medication (naloxone) does not work on xylazine. Narcan is an opioid antagonist specifically designed to reverse the effects of opioid overdoses by blocking opioid receptors in the brain.
However, since xylazine is not an opioid, Narcan does not affect xylazine-induced symptoms like respiratory depression, bradycardia, or deep sedation. The growing concern arises because xylazine is frequently found mixed with opioids like fentanyl in street drugs.
While Narcan can still reverse the opioid effects in such combinations, it does not counteract xylazine’s life-threatening effects, such as severe sedation and respiratory depression. This makes treating overdoses involving xylazine particularly challenging.
Xylazine Addiction Treatment
Treating xylazine addiction presents unique challenges due to the drug’s non-opioid nature and the severity of its withdrawal symptoms.
Unlike opioids, for which buprenorphine and methadone medications can be used in treatment, there are no approved medications specifically designed to treat xylazine dependence. Treatment must be individualized, including medical care, behavioral therapy, and supportive interventions.
Xylazine Withdrawal and Detox
Withdrawal from xylazine is reported to be highly uncomfortable and difficult to manage, with symptoms that can be more intense than those associated with opioid withdrawal. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of xylazine withdrawal include:
- Anxiety (91%)
- Depressed mood (74%)
- Body aches (63%)
- Agitation and irritability
- Sharp chest pain
- Seizures (severe cases)
57% of patients who use xylazine report that its presence worsens the withdrawal experience from other substances, particularly opioids. This makes the detox process even more challenging, as both xylazine and opioid withdrawal symptoms often overlap.
Addressing Polysubstance Use
Xylazine is often used in combination with opioids, like fentanyl, which means that addiction treatment programs must address both xylazine and opioid dependence.
Opioid addiction may be treated with medication-assisted treatment (MAT), but a holistic approach that targets both substances is critical for recovery.
Supportive Care
Patients may suffer from significant physical complications such as necrotic skin ulcers, infections, and cardiovascular issues caused by prolonged xylazine use. Treatment often includes wound care, pain management, and infection control.
Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and contingency management are effective behavioral interventions in treating substance use disorders. These therapies help patients understand the triggers behind their drug use, develop coping strategies, and build motivation to stay sober.
Long-Term Addiction Support
Due to the complexity of xylazine addiction and its high relapse potential, long-term treatment must include follow-up care, relapse prevention strategies, and community support. Participation in 12-step programs, group therapy, or other recovery support groups can provide patients with ongoing encouragement and accountability.
Find Xylazine Treatment Near Me
Xylazine, known as one of the “zombie drugs,” is rapidly becoming a public health crisis, following a similar trajectory to fentanyl. It began in the white powder heroin markets, and now it’s becoming a common adulterant in the fentanyl supply.
Authorities and healthcare providers must act urgently. Xylazine overdoses can be harder to detect in clinical settings because they mimic opioid overdoses and often go undetected in routine drug screenings. Healthcare providers should begin screening for xylazine in cases of suspected overdoses to identify better and treat it.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with addiction, contact a local rehab center for medical care and support and professional withdrawal management.
People Also Ask
What is xylazine used for?
Xylazine is a sedative and analgesic used in veterinary medicine to calm and manage pain in animals undergoing medical procedures.
What kind of drug is xylazine?
Xylazine is a non-opioid α-2 adrenergic agonist, primarily used for its sedative and muscle relaxant effects in veterinary settings.
What drug makes you look like a zombie?
Xylazine, also known as the zombie drug, causes severe sedation and physical deterioration, leading to a “zombie-like” appearance with symptoms such as skin ulcers and impaired motor skills.
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