Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and other top health officials have warned Ohio parents about a deadly “zombie” drug that can be fatal.
Xylazine, which is also known as “tranq” or the “zombie drug”, is also known to cause flesh to decay at injection sites.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed an emergency order to classify xylazine a Schedule III controlled substance after reporting that well over 100 people had overdosed on the drug in 2022, an exponential increase over previous years. “The rate of overdose deaths involving a mixture of xylazine and other drugs is increasing at an alarming rate, which is exactly why we need to take action now.”
The drug is intended to be used as a veterinary sedative, but has been increasingly mixed with opioids like fentanyl resulting in a greater chance of death by overdose.
According to the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center, it’s estimated that 30% of fentanyl overdoses also include xylazine. Even more frighteningly, Narcan does not reverse the effects of a xylazine overdose.
Veterinary practices may still administer xylazine to animals but now must obtain a Category 3 Terminal Distributor of Dangerous Drugs license to be permitted to order xylazine from a licensed wholesaler.