Understanding the Zombie Drug Phenomenon

• Xylazine, or as it is ominously known on the streets, "tranq," "tranq dope," or "zombie drug," is a substance that has been causing havoc and fear.
• This drug is known for its sedative-like effects, which can result in extreme drowsiness and respiratory depression. This has led to instances of people being unable to stand or maintain balance.
• One of the more horrifying effects of the drug is the raw wounds it can cause on the skin. These wounds can quickly spread with frequent exposure, starting as ulcers and eventually hardening into dead skin, a condition known as eschar. If not treated promptly, it can necessitate amputation.
• Xylazine can also lead to memory loss and significantly reduce the breathing rate, heart rate, and blood pressure of those who consume it.
• This drug first made its appearance in Philadelphia and has since spread to other major cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles.
• While Xylazine is a central nervous system depressant and acts as a sedative and painkiller, its use is approved by the US FDA for animals only.

How does it transform people into 'zombies'?

• The tranquilizing effects of Xylazine can render users completely unconscious, especially at high doses.
• When combined with substances like fentanyl, it can lead to users falling into a deep sleep, only to wake up after several hours, quite unlike the semi-conscious state induced by opioids.
• The risk of overdosing on Xylazine is extremely high, and the chances of reversing such an overdose are slim. The risk is even higher if the drug is consumed in combination with other substances.
• An overdose of Xylazine can render the user unresponsive to naloxone, or Narcan—the most commonly used treatment for reversing overdoses.
• As per the data released by the New York City Health Department, Xylazine overdoses claimed as many as 2,668 lives in New York in 2021.

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