A tranquilizer known as xylazine, often referred to as a "zombie drug," is increasingly being smuggled across the U.S. southern border, posing a growing threat to Americans. Xylazine, used by veterinarians as a tranquilizer, has found its way into the illegal drug market, often mixed with the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl.
Dr. Joseph Friedman, who has extensively studied xylazine, reports evidence of the drug being imported into the U.S. through the southern border and being diverted from domestic veterinary supplies. According to researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, xylazine's presence in the U.S. has escalated, particularly in Tijuana, Mexico, and southern California, where it is frequently combined with fentanyl.
The drug is particularly dangerous because it does not respond to naloxone, a medication used to counteract opioid overdoses. When xylazine is detected, it is almost always found alongside fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has issued a public safety alert, noting that xylazine is making fentanyl, already the deadliest drug threat in the U.S., even more lethal. In 2022, the DEA reported that approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized contained xylazine.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that xylazine's prevalence in opioid deaths increased from 2.9% in January 2019 to 10.9% in June 2022. The drug causes a "zombie-like" state by constricting blood vessels and cutting off oxygen flow, leading to severe health issues like abscesses that rot the flesh.
As xylazine continues to spread, it has been identified as an emerging threat by multiple governments, including the U.S., Chile, and Mexico. Efforts to address the crisis include increased restrictions on xylazine imports and ongoing monitoring by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.