medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 1, 2024
Background:
Xylazine
is
an
animal
tranquilizer
without
approved
medical
use
in
humans
that
increasingly
being
misused
as
adulterant
illicit
drugs.
This
study
aimed
to
characterize
national
trends
and
adverse
outcomes
associated
with
the
emerging
misuse
of
xylazine
using
digital
surveillance
data.
Methods:
We
examined
online
search
social
media
discussions
related
U.S.
from
2019
2023
Google
Searches
data
conducted
Joinpoint
regression
assess
trends.
also
attention
Almetric
score
analyzed
reports
on
FDA
Adverse
Event
Reporting
System
(FAERS)
through
September
logistic
regression.
Results:
Our
analysis
revealed
overall
increasing
trend
searches
for
XYLAZINE
nationally,
average
monthly
percentage
change
4.6%
(95%
CI:
3.9
5.1,
P
<0.001),
indicating
growing
awareness.
On
media,
mentions
rose
exponentially
starting
late
2021.
Analysis
FAERS
identified
94
events
xylazine,
most
which
involved
men
(70.2%),
a
mean
age
36.5
(SD:
14.3)
years.
Alarmingly,
these
xylazine-linked
had
87.2%
fatality
rate,
increased
over
40-fold
concurrent
fentanyl
(reported
OR:
40.5,
95%
4.0
407.4,
=
0.002).
Conclusions:
These
findings
underscore
urgent
need
greater
public
health
awareness,
harm
reduction
strategies,
enhanced
targeting
worsening
addiction
overdose
crisis.
Research Square (Research Square),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: July 26, 2024
Abstract
Background
Xylazine
(which
goes
by
the
street
name
“Tranq”)
is
a
veterinary
animal
tranquilizer
that
commonly
and
sometimes
unknowingly
used
in
combination
with
illicit
fentanyl
has
garnered
increased
media
government
attention
recent
months.
The
White
House
National
Response
Plan
from
July
2023
emphasized
testing
for
xylazine
as
crucial
first
step
to
curbing
abuse.
Forensic
Fluids
Laboratories
(FFL),
which
specializes
oral
fluid
drug
testing,
began
surveilling
this
substance
beginning
early
2023.
Here,
we
examined
our
data
over
year
of
present
observations
trends
identified
data.
We
show
an
excellent
tool
identifying
use.
Methods
From
March
through
2024,
55,000
specimens
were
analyzed
using
Liquid
Chromatography-Tandem
Mass
Spectrometry
(LC-MS-MS)
following
presumptive
positive
screen
methamphetamine,
cocaine,
opiates,
fentanyl,
and/or
FDA-approved
Enzyme
Linked
Immunosorbent
Assays
(ELISA).
Results
these
analyses
well
associated
geospatial
metadata
extracted
sample
database
Pandas
NumPy
libraries
Python.
Plots
maps
generated
Matplotlib
GeoPandas
On
average
entire
period,
was
found
3.41%
total
55,691
samples.
Using
three-month
positivity
rate,
prevalence
peaked
at
3.76%
samples
June
hit
its
low
September
3.14%.
Of
xylazine-positive
samples,
96.5%
time.
In
addition,
86.2%
indicated
some
degree
polydrug
use
where
least
two
other
classes
present.
note,
stimulants
61.4%
positives.
among
fentanyl-positive
average,
21.70%
May
30.92%
2024.
Across
states
Michigan,
Ohio,
Indiana,
spread
45
new
counties
conclusion
study
window.
At
county
level,
general
hotspots
identified,
variable
certain
increasing
decreasing
Conclusions
While
overall
fluctuated
recreational
users
individual
county-level
during
time
tended
reveal
dynamic
shifts
Our
highlights
across
provides
support
adulteration
supply.
With
trends,
aim
local
state
agencies
promoting
continued
action
collaboration
toward
mitigating
xylazine.
Substance Use & Addiction Journal,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
46(2), P. 291 - 301
Published: Aug. 3, 2024
Background:
Xylazine,
an
adulterant
in
local
drug
supplies,
has
been
detected
approximately
30%
of
opioid
samples
submitted
for
testing
Massachusetts.
A
better
understanding
risks,
harms,
and
use
preferences
is
needed
to
combat
xylazine-related
impacts
on
communities.
Methods:
Through
the
STOP-OD
Lowell
study,
we
aimed
assess
xylazine
awareness
through
in-depth
interviews
with
community
stakeholders
(n
=
15)
people
who
drugs
(PWUD;
n
surveys
PWUD
94).
The
qualitative
focused
current
landscape
knowledge
adulterants
Lowell,
results
informed
subsequent
survey
design.
our
survey,
examined
whether
were
aware
their
willingness
test
strips.
Results:
Most
had
limited
about
presence
impact
as
adulterant.
Forty-seven
(50%)
respondents
xylazine.
When
provided
more
information
xylazine,
65%
all
expressed
a
received
naloxone
training,
reported
using
others,
tester
shots
willing
Conclusion:
Our
findings
are
congruent
existing
literature
that
indicates
there
among
PWUD,
they
consider
unwanted
We
also
found
other
harm
reduction
measures
increase
warrants
additional
community-level
interventions
such
wound
management
infrastructure.
Further
research
understand
associated
use,
effective
techniques,
perceptions
Harm Reduction Journal,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
21(1)
Published: Oct. 14, 2024
The
prevalence
of
xylazine,
a
non-opioid
tranquilizer
not
for
human
consumption,
in
illicitly
manufactured
fentanyl
is
increasing
the
United
States.
However,
little
known
about
xylazine
awareness
and
attitudes
among
people
who
use
drugs.
medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 1, 2024
Background:
Xylazine
is
an
animal
tranquilizer
without
approved
medical
use
in
humans
that
increasingly
being
misused
as
adulterant
illicit
drugs.
This
study
aimed
to
characterize
national
trends
and
adverse
outcomes
associated
with
the
emerging
misuse
of
xylazine
using
digital
surveillance
data.
Methods:
We
examined
online
search
social
media
discussions
related
U.S.
from
2019
2023
Google
Searches
data
conducted
Joinpoint
regression
assess
trends.
also
attention
Almetric
score
analyzed
reports
on
FDA
Adverse
Event
Reporting
System
(FAERS)
through
September
logistic
regression.
Results:
Our
analysis
revealed
overall
increasing
trend
searches
for
XYLAZINE
nationally,
average
monthly
percentage
change
4.6%
(95%
CI:
3.9
5.1,
P
<0.001),
indicating
growing
awareness.
On
media,
mentions
rose
exponentially
starting
late
2021.
Analysis
FAERS
identified
94
events
xylazine,
most
which
involved
men
(70.2%),
a
mean
age
36.5
(SD:
14.3)
years.
Alarmingly,
these
xylazine-linked
had
87.2%
fatality
rate,
increased
over
40-fold
concurrent
fentanyl
(reported
OR:
40.5,
95%
4.0
407.4,
=
0.002).
Conclusions:
These
findings
underscore
urgent
need
greater
public
health
awareness,
harm
reduction
strategies,
enhanced
targeting
worsening
addiction
overdose
crisis.