Opioid Mixture Xylazine A Threat In VA As Feds Issue Warning Over Dangerous Drug

VIRGINIA — Federal drug authorities are warning people in Virginia about a sharp increase in trafficking in a deadly new fentanyl cocktail that is cut with the common veterinary sedative xylazine, also known as “Tranq.”

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a public safety alert Monday that xylazine “is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier.”

In 2021, there were, 2,622 fatal overdoses in Virginia, up from 2,030 the year before, the state's overdose data site said.

State medical examiners said that from Jan. 1 through Sept. 30, 2022, Virginia recorded 2,557 overdose fatalities, with 1,963 from fentanyl alone.

“It’s one of a plethora of drugs that’s coming out. They pop up, disappear, pop up, disappear – and this is one that’s been around for awhile,” Dr. Chris Holstege with the University of Virginia told WAVY in October.

A combination of Xylazine and fentanyl were listed as the cause of death for 2-year-old Delilah Gunn, found dead in York County in July 2022. Her parents, Jesse Gunn and Anna Raines are facing murder charges in connection with the girl’s death. Her grandfather, Timothy Raines, is charged with child neglect.

“I was surprised at the Xylazine because we haven’t seen a case here in York County that involves Xylazine being mixed with fentanyl,” Major Ron Montgomery with the York County Sheriff’s Office told the TV station.

Xylazine isn’t an opioid, so the overdose reversal drug naloxone — Narcan — doesn’t work, putting users at a greater risk of overdose, the DEA said. Tranq causes a range of other serious medical problems, including severe wounds at the injection point or necrosis — the rotting of human tissue — that may lead to amputation.

“It’s pretty scary,” Maryland’s Special Secretary for Opioid Response Emily Keller told WTOP of xylazine. “We are seeing a growing increase of the wounds. It’s alarming.”

A wound care nurse at Voices of Hope Maryland, an addiction recovery group, told The Washington Post his first patient had to have her hand amputated. He treats up to 30 patients a week suffering fromxylazine sores.

“The skin is fully rotted, and the edges are purple. Blistered. People continually inject into these edges and make the wounds larger,” Jason Bienert said.

People might not be aware they are taking xylazine, health officials said.

According to CNN, the White House is looking at xylazine as a potential “emerging threat,” meaning they would develop a federal plan to address it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates two-thirds of all drug overdose deaths in the United States are fentanyl-related. Previously released provisional data may have undercounted drug overdose deaths due to reporting delays, the agency said.

Now, with the revised data, the CDC projects that 4,500 more people than previously thought may have died of overdoses from the 12-month period ending in October 2022. According to the most recent projections, 107,689 people died of drug overdoses during the period.

In Virginia, overdose deaths are expected to be about 16 percent lower than previously projected, at 2,559 people who lost their lives to illicit drugs.

In 2022, nearly a quarter (23 percent) of all fentanyl powder and 7 percent of all fentanyl pills seized in investigations contained xylazine, the DEA said. Xylazine and fentanyl mixtures were seized in 48 of 50 states.

The Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services has information about substance abuse, services for people who use drugs or alcohol and could become pregnant or could become pregnant, and training in how to use naloxone for opioid overdose.

The Virginia Department of Social Services has information for people who want help with substance abuse and are on Medicaid or uninsured.