Xylazine Addiction and Treatment Options
What is Xylazine (Tranq)?
Xylazine, which is sold commercially as Rompun and AnaSed, is a nonopioid analgesic used to tranquilize animals in veterinary medicine. Despite some clinical trials for human use in treating pain and insomnia, the drug’s undesirable side effects make it unsafe for human consumption according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Despite this, xylazine has become a popular illicit drug in part because it is easily accessible and cheap. It is known by the street names tranq or tranq dope. It is available as a liquid or powder so it may be injected, swallowed, or snorted. It is also often used to cut other substances like heroin or fentanyl, which can enhance the drugs’ effects.
What Makes Xylazine So Dangerous
Though it was originally developed for veterinary use, there were some attempts to investigate xylazine’s potential use as an analgesic or sleep aid. However, these studies found that the substance causes extreme side effects including dangerously slowed breathing and blood pressure. Other effects on the nervous system include drowsiness, stupor, and memory loss. These effects occur because of how severely xylazine impairs and reduces the function of the central nervous system.
These dangerous effects are compounded when xylazine is mixed with other substances such as heroin or alcohol. That’s because multiple nervous system depressants can have a synergistic effect on the body, creating a far more powerful and unpredictable depressant response. This can increase the likelihood of coma or fatal overdose.
Xylazine Effects
The effects of xylazine on the human body have not been fully investigated since it is not considered safe for human use. However, some of its reported effects are similar to other opioids and nervous system depressants. The effects of xylazine may include:
- Dry mouth
- Changes in blood pressure (for example, high blood pressure followed by a drop in blood pressure)
- Decreased body temperature
- Elevated or decreased heart rate
- High blood sugar
- Slowed or labored breathing
- Drowsiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Coma
In addition to these effects, when xylazine is injected, it can lead to the development of skin ulcers. These may occur where xylazine was injected but they may also occur elsewhere on the body. These wounds may become infected over time, requiring amputation.
Is Xylazine Addictive?
There is limited information about xylazine’s addictive effects since it is not used for medical research. However, since it is often used with opioids, some of the mechanisms that make opioids addictive may also lead to some dependency to xylazine. Opioid addiction occurs because the drug drastically blunts the sensation of pain and causes feelings of euphoria. This makes its effects desirable to individuals and can lead to repeated use. As a potent sedative, xylazine may enhance these effects and lead to the development of dependence.Risks of Mixing Xylazine with Opioids
Xylazine is cheap and fairly easy to buy compared to other substances, which means it is often used to cut other substances like heroin and fentanyl during illicit manufacturing. Opioid and xylazine mixes have been discovered by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in almost all US states. This means that accidental xylazine mixing may be more likely than known.
Whether mixed deliberately or not, the combination of xylazine and opioids can create a greater danger because of their combined effects on the nervous system. Opioids alone can have dramatic effects on the nervous system and are associated with increased risk of overdose. When combined, these dangers including reduced heart rate, breathing, and motor coordination are compounded, which could increase the intensity of each drug’s effects.
Another risk of mixing xylazine with opioids is that it may make opioid overdose treatment less effective. Naloxone, the drug used to reverse the effects of opioids in order to treat overdose, has no effect on xylazine. This can make treatment more difficult, especially if the individual is unaware they have inadvertently taken xylazine. It’s important to disclose all potential substances used in the event of an overdose.
Xylazine Overdose
Because xylazine is not often included in drug testing, it may be difficult to ascertain how common xylazine-related overdose is. Nonetheless, its presence in overdose deaths has increased over the last decade and the risk of overdose is significantly higher when it is mixed with other substances like opioids. Potential xylazine overdose is a medical emergency and should be treated urgently by paramedics. Signs of xylazine-related overdose include:
- Impaired reflexes
- Impaired motor coordination
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness or sedation
- Stupor
- Confusion
- Muscle weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Pinpoint pupils
- Slowed heart rate or weak pulse
- Low blood pressure
- Labored breathing
Addiction Treatment Involving Xylazine Use
Polysubstance use can be more complicated to treat and xylazine use in conjunction with other substances is no different. It can result in more severe withdrawal symptoms that last longer, making detox more difficult. It can also limit the effectiveness of medication used to treat overdoses such as naloxone.
Since so little is known about how xylazine affects the human body, addiction treatment where xylazine use is involved generally treats the other substance used. Treatment begins with medical detox, during which an individual eliminates the substances from the body while under round-the-clock medical supervision. Treatment progresses to behavioral interventions, which include peer and individual therapy, where the individual can tackle emotional, behavioral, and cognitive causes for substance abuse.
Xylazine Addiction FAQs
Xylazine Addiction Recovery at Riverwalk Ranch
A Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area Addiction Treatment CenterAt Riverwalk Ranch, we are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic, helping you manage xylazine addiction as part of our comprehensive addiction treatment services. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, our professionals use only empirically-supported interventions to help you safely and comfortably eliminate xylazine from your system and begin your journey toward recovery. At Riverwalk, you will find an encouraging and safe haven to detox, surrounded by addiction specialists and other like-minded peers all working toward a healthier life.
If you or a loved one is suffering from xylazine addiction or is at risk of overdose, don’t wait to contact our addiction treatment center today at (877) 863-3869. Timely intervention could mean the difference between life and death. Whether you live in Texas or you’re looking for a fresh start in a new environment, Riverwalk Ranch can provide a therapeutic and supportive home for you. Everyone deserves a happy and healthy life free from addiction, and we are committed to helping you overcome xylazine addiction in order to get you there.
