'Tranq' contributing to Franklin County overdoses
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is often used by veterinarians and farmers for livestock and has not been approved for use in humans. However, according to CompDrug, it’s easily accessible and being utilized in street drug supply.
Xylazine isn’t an opioid, so Narcan will not work, but it is still recommended as a first line of response.
“Xylazine is a depressant. It will achieve that similar effect that individuals can get from opioids,” said Hannah Richards, a CompDrug community health advocate.
According to CompDrug, it’s cheaper and readily accessible, making it easier to add to the drug supply.
“They're able to sell more of it at a cheaper value while individuals are still able to achieve that same effect and that same high,” Richards said.
According to the Franklin County Coroner’s Officer, there have been 104 xylazine-related deaths from 2019 to 2022.
- In 2019: 10 people died.
- In 2020: 26 people died.
- In 2021: 35 people died.
- In 2022: 33 people died.
“The biggest complications we’re seeing from xylazine use are these xylazine-related lesions that appear on humans who are using it,” Dru Batte, a community health advocate, said. “They can cause necrosis so the tissue will die, large open wounds can often lead to amputations, things like that.”
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, xylazine is commonly mixed with fentanyl, but it can also contaminate other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
“We're seeing fentanyl being replaced with xylazine, people are seeking it out,” Batte said. “Once they get used to its effects and they build up that tolerance, they seek it out.”
Batte said this is concerning because they don’t know how to mitigate those overdoses the same way we do with opioids. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry and utilize Narcan.
“If you are suffering from xylazine-associated wounds, please seek out medical care or address those wounds by keeping them clean, moist and covered,” Richards said. “We've developed that guidance and seen it work really well with a lot of our community members.”
Xylazine test strips are also readily available in Columbus -- CompDrug gives them away for free.
“If we don't come together and address this crisis as a community with compassion, with a harm reduction-based approach, with evidence-based, trauma-informed care, we're only going to see more and more people die,” Batte said.
In response to the rapid escalation of xylazine, CompDrug Community Health is hosting an informational webinar on March 21 at 2 p.m. It’s free to register and community members will get time at the end to ask questions.