What is Xylazine and why is it called the “Zombie Drug”?
Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” “tranq dope,” or the “zombie drug,” is a powerful sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant approved only for veterinary use. It is used in animals such as horses, cattle, cats, and dogs for sedation or anesthesia during procedures. However, its use in humans is not authorized due to its potentially lethal effects.
Why is it Dangerous?
In the context of drug trafficking, Xylazine is used as an adulterant in drugs like heroin and primarily fentanyl. Although it is not an opioid, it acts as a central nervous system depressant and can cause extreme somnolence, bradycardia, hypotension, hyperglycemia, and severe respiratory depression.
When combined with opioids, benzodiazepines, or alcohol, it can lead to cardiac arrest, coma, or death. Moreover, its consumption is associated with severe skin injuries, such as non-healing ulcers, tissue necrosis, and in extreme cases, amputations. These injuries can occur even if the drug is not administered via injection.
Emerging Threat
Since 2023, the White House in the United States has considered Xylazine an emerging threat, as it was detected in up to 19% of opoid overdose deaths in cities like Philadelphia and New York. The mixture with fentanyl, known as “tranq dope,” induces such profound sedation that it can leave individuals unconscious for hours, causing severe body damage.
In the United Kingdom, Xylazine was added in January 2025 to the list of banned drugs, classifying it as Category C. Its use, production, or distribution can now result in up to 14 years in prison.
In Mexico, authorities issued a health alert in April 2024 to medical personnel and first responders in border cities like Tijuana and Mexicali due to its growing detection as an adulterant in heroin and fentanyl samples. A study in these cities found Xylazine in over 60 analyzed samples using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.
Dr. Clara Fleiz Bautista, coordinator of the Opioides working group at the Seminar of Globality Studies in the Faculty of Medicine at UNAM, emphasized that health policies should focus on preventing overdoses, promoting comprehensive treatment therapies, and reinforcing the monitoring of new psychoactive substances.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Xylazine? Xylazine is a veterinary drug that has been increasingly used as an adulterant in illicit drugs, causing severe health issues in humans.
- Why is Xylazine dangerous? It can cause extreme sedation, respiratory depression, and severe skin injuries. When combined with other substances like opioids or alcohol, it can lead to cardiac arrest, coma, or death.
- Why is Xylazine an emerging threat? Its detection in opoid overdose deaths and its use as an adulterant in illicit drugs have raised concerns among health authorities in the US, UK, and Mexico.
- What are the health authorities doing about Xylazine? Authorities have issued alerts, added Xylazine to banned substances lists, and emphasized the need for comprehensive treatment therapies and monitoring of new psychoactive substances.
