(USNewsMag.com) – In an effort to stop the spread of the drug xylazine, House and Senate lawmakers introduced the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act March 28. In the Senate the legislation was introduced by Nevada Sen. Cortez Masto, New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley. In the House, it was introduced by New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas, California, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Texas Rep. August Pfluger and Colorado Rep. Ken Buck.
The proposed bill would put xylazine in a classification with ketamine and anabolic steroids. It would be classified as a Schedule III drug. Xylazine would be declared an emerging drug threat. In an effort to stop it from being used to cut illegal drugs, the proposed bill would allow for the tracking of the xylazine’s manufacturing by the DEA.
The proposed legislation would protect the veterinary use of xylazine by farmers, ranchers and veterinarians while helping law enforcement to crack down on the illegal use. Not approved for human use, xylazine is a veterinary sedative which is also known as tranq. It is used for large animals such as horses.
In humans, it can cause necrotic skin ulcerations that can be severe. It can also cause effects such as coma, blurred vision, respiratory depression, hypotension, drowsiness, bradycardia, miosis, disorientation, staggering, hypotension, and hyperglycemia.
While it is not an opiate it depresses breathing and combined with an opiate can lead to someone’s breathing stopping. The effects of xylazine can’t be reversed with Naloxone, or Narcan, however, the opioids will react if administered to someone overdosing to a drug cut with xylazine.
Shipments of xylazine face heightened scrutiny from the Food and Drug Administration, after the FDA stated in February it would restrict imports of the drug.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has said xylazine is being cut with other drugs, finding it in almost a quarter of fentanyl powder seized by the DEA in 2022. In 48 of 50 states, it has been found mixed with fentanyl.
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