The Biden administration is raising the alarm about “tranq” – an increasingly common drug now lacing fentanyl with lethal potency.
The White House declared Wednesday that xylazine-laced fentanyl is an “emerging drug threat” to the public, committing itself to proactively fighting the substance.
“This designation comes after careful review of the impact of xylazine on the opioid crisis, including its growing role in overdose deaths in every region of the United States,” the White House said in a statement.
Xylazine is a common veterinary drug, used as an animal tranquilizer and pain reliever. But it has now become a favorite of drug dealers looking to cut costs.
Also known by the street name “tranq,” xylazine is highly addictive and causes slowed breathing and heart rate in users, leading to higher rates of overdose.
“As a physician, I am deeply troubled about the devastating impact of the fentanyl-xylazine combination, and as President Biden’s drug policy adviser, I am immensely concerned about what this threat means for the nation,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta in a statement.
Gupta is the director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
“By declaring xylazine combined with fentanyl as an emerging threat, we are being proactive in our approach to save lives and creating new tools for public health and public safety officials and communities across the Nation,” Gupta added.
Xylazine-laced fentanyl is the first drug to be designated an “emerging threat” by the White House.
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