The drug xylazine has been identified in multiple combinations of street drugs in the last few months across the United States.

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer that veterinarians often use. It has not been approved for human use. The drug is not sold on its own, always in a combination of drugs — especially fentanyl — because xylazine has been discovered to extend fentanyl’s effect.

“The reason it has begun to be found in street drugs is because it has the effect of extending the high,” said Steve Kilburn, grant projects director for the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene. “That’s the rationale people are using for adding it. It’s never sold on its own. It’s always found in a combination on the street.”

Xylazine is also a central nervous system depressor. These types of drugs are often likely to lead to overdoses and can be deadly. One of the big problems with this is that xylazine is not an opioid, and therefore the Narcan remedy for opioid overdoses does not reverse the effect of a xylazine overdose. Even if Narcan is administered for an overdose victim, if it is xylazine it may not revive them, even if the xylazine was in a combination of opioids.

Xylazine has also been seen to lead to severe skin wounds that are hard to treat.

“We are concerned,” Kilburn said. “In some areas xylazine is already rampant, and in others it is beginning to be. It has been noted in Chautauqua County.”

EARLY WARNING

Rick Huber, former executive director of the Mental Health Association of Chautauqua County and a self-described street fighter for struggling addicts, said he has had reports from people he used to work with about xylazine for months.

“I got calls from people I used to work with years ago who are in Florida and they said fentanyl that is mixed with xylazine is headed this way,” Huber said. “I was talking to people three months ago, and I saw no reaction up here. It made me wonder.”

Huber said he was concerned with xylazine hitting places such as local colleges. Huber said xylazine was part of a bust in December. Elina Martinez, 64, of Miami, Fla., was charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute, and distribute, 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

“I asked (Sheriff) Jim Quatrone when they first got the information on the lady from Miami who was arrested with fentanyl if it had xylazine in it,” Huber said. “He didn’t know and I asked him to check. They wouldn’t have checked if I didn’t ask. This was three or four months ago.”

Huber said the reaction in the local area to the potential threat was worrying for him.

“In all my years I have seen the county seeming to be reactive instead of proactive,” Huber said. “At first there seemed to be an idea that this wasn’t a big deal, but it is. It’s much worse now than it was before I retired. I don’t see a lot getting done. This worries me because a lot of people can die really quickly when xylazine is mixed with fentanyl and narcan won’t help. They need to get to the hospital quickly. It does unbelievable stuff to the body.”

NOT A BRAND NEW DRUG

At the moment, Kilburn said there is no way of knowing when xylazine is in a drug supply and no way of knowing how extensive it reaches. Every street drug is dangerous and potentially deadly, but Kilburn said the addition of xylazine increases the dangers.

“This is not a brand new drug,” Kilburn said. “It has been around in the illegal drug supply for a while. It has been here before, but now appears to be increasing.”

Xylazine test strips have begun to be introduced, but since they are brand new there are none in the county yet. Kilburn said there is a possibility of getting the strips or another way to test for xylazine in the county in the future but because the strips are so new, there is currently no way to test for xylazine in Chautauqua County.

There is also no known remedy for xylazine to use instead of Narcan. Kilburn said anyone with a suspected overdose should immediately call 911 — not just for xylazine, but all overdoses.

Any street drug is dangerous, with or without the inclusion of xylazine. Kilburn said there are resources available in the county for those in need. Resources can be found at CombatAddictionCHQ.com.

“There is hope,” Kilburn said. “People can get help. We’re not just sitting ducks here. We want people to be aware that there are resources. Xylazine is a complicated topic. Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug. Xylazine is not, it just complicates things.”