Xylazine is a powerful sedative. It has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (DEA) for veterinary use.
The department stressed that xylazine represents “the deadliest drug threat” to the United States and, along with fentanyl, “even deadlier.” People who use such a mixture risk being poisoned.
Newsweek writes that because of its strong sedative effect, xylazine is called a “zombie drug.” In addition, it potentiates the effect of other drugs.
This drug causes respiratory and cardiac rhythm disturbances, vasoconstriction, and interruption of skin oxygenation. Drug users who inject narcotic mixtures with xylazine can sustain serious injuries, which can lead to necrosis and amputation.
In addition, the “zombie drug” is very cheap: according to the DEA, it can be purchased for as little as $6 a kilo on the Internet. All of this contributes to its rapid spread in the United States. Mixtures of xylazine and fentanyl have been found in 48 of the 50 US states.
