Understanding Xylazine

Updated May 24, 2024

What is xylazine?

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer used by veterinarians that is not approved for use in humans. Xylazine is sometimes added to recreational drugs to prolong a drug’s effects.

How common is xylazine locally?

Xylazine has been found in drugs in Portland and the Pacific Northwest; however, it is not widespread in our area at this time.

What drugs may contain xylazine?

Xylazine is most often added to opioids, such as fentanyl, but can also be in other drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine. It can appear as a powder, mixed into pills, or in other forms and cannot be easily identified by appearance. Sometimes it is called “tranq” or “tranq dope.”

What are some of xylazine’s effects?

In addition to causing deeper sedation, which can increase risk of overdose, xylazine has also been associated with severe skin wounds. These wounds are often at the site of injection, but can be seen far from the site of drug use and may even happen in people who have smoked xylazine.

Does naloxone (also called Narcan) work to reverse a xylazine overdose?

Xylazine is not an opioid, so naloxone (a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose), does not reverse the effects of xylazine in an overdose. Still, because xylazine is often combined with fentanyl or other opioids, you should administer naloxone if you think someone is experiencing an overdose. naloxone should be administered as part of the response to a suspected overdose. The observed overdose symptoms may be due to opioid effects, and the naloxone can help to reverse the effects of an overdose.