…’terrifying’ threat from xylazine…
“Almost 100% of our drug supply is fentanyl and 80% to 90% of that fentanyl is adulterated with xylazine,” said Dr. Elizabeth Krans, a physician and researcher at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Xylazine is a potent animal tranquilizer normally used by veterinarians. For reasons that aren’t completely clear, drug gangs began mixing it into street fentanyl a couple years ago. The chemical is toxic in humans, causing skin lesions and wounds that heal slowly, if at all… Xylazine also appears to complicate use of medications like methadone and buprenorphine that are proven to ease opioid cravings… The National Institutes of Health is currently funding xylazine research…
Original Article (NPR):
Pregnant women and babies face ‘terrifying’ threat from xylazine addiction
Artwork Fair Use: Bhavani Nagendra Papudesi, MD
