Those who provide substance abuse treatment say a new deadly drug combination is starting to appear on Ohio’s streets.
There is a substance known as “Tranq-Dope” that has started to appear in Columbus and Cincinnati and is spreading rapidly to rural areas.
According to reports, it’s a combination of opioids and Xylazine, a powerful sedative that resists Narcan or Naloxone treatments.
As a tranquilizer for cattle and large game animals like elk, Xylazine is widely used in veterinary medicine. It was synthesized by Bayer in 1962.
Human clinical trials of the drug were terminated due to its severe hypotension and central nervous system depressant effects. Since then, Xylazine has been approved by the FDA solely for veterinary use.
Opioids like Fentanyl or Heroin can be made more potent by Xylazine, a drug that slows rapid breathing and lowers blood pressure.
A press release from Family Recovery Center said the Xylazine mixed with Fentanyl, Heroin, or other drugs, renders Narcan useless to reverse overdoses.
Xylazine combined with Fentanyl is considered to be more powerful than Carfentanil, which has been shown to lead to death when breathing is drastically suppressed.
“Tranq-Dope” needs to be on everyone’s radar. One of the most bizarre phenomena among drug users is their inclination to use drugs that are known to have a higher death rate. Despite new laws aimed to charge drug dealers if someone dies from their product, dealers who claim the drugs are “safe” will soon find themselves without a market.