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Drug can cause rotting skin, amputations
By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies
August 2023 (San Diego’s East County) --Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. But a DEA Public Safety Alert warns that a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine is making the threat even deadlier.
Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” is a powerful sedative approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for veterinary use. Not human use. It is commonly used to tranquilize large animals like horses and livestock during medical procedures. It requires a prescription. But it has found its way into the illicit drug market and is being used recreationally by users seeking an intense and dangerous high.
There have been a handful of deaths from Xylazine overdose in San Diego County and only a few cases have occurred in East County. National news coverage indicates Philadelphia is the epicenter for Xylazine, but it’s only a matter of time before it makes its way to East County.
The DEA has seized Xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States. In 2022, approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine. Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. And because Xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone does not reverse its effects. However, experts recommend administering naloxone if someone experiences drug poisoning. If that wasn’t enough to dissuade usage, there’s another problem. People who inject drug mixtures containing Xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation.
According to the CDC, 107,735 Americans died between August 2021 and August 2022 from drug poisonings, with 66 percent of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel in Mexico, using chemicals sourced mainly from China, are primarily responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in communities across the United States. FDA recently communicated to healthcare providers about the risks to patients exposed to xylazine in illicit drugs. The Associated Press produced a graphic video showing the physical and mental effects of “tranq,” including how it can turn users into “Xylazine zombies.”
Long-term abuse of Xylazine can lead to numerous health issues, including liver and kidney damage, cognitive impairment, and mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and hallucinations. Users may find themselves trapped in a cycle of addiction, with withdrawal symptoms that can be physically and emotionally challenging to overcome.
Tara Stamos-Buesig is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Harm Reduction Coalition of San Diego. She says her job is to save the lives of people everyone else leaves behind. “The reality of it is, we are going to see changes in our drug supply and xylazine will at some point make it to San Diego,” she said. “We have to be ready.” Addiction is a treatable brain disease, not a moral failing. We should not judge people with substance use disorders.
Stamos-Buesig grew up in East County and knows firsthand about substance misuse, back in the days before there were harm reduction services here. She remembers feeling considerable pushback against drug users from the community. “If the individual is not supported, then the community is not going to thrive,” she said.
Now, thanks to the Harm Reduction Coalition and other services, they have made an impact so far in the community. Thus, further emphasizing the need for such strategies.
The San Diego County Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Taskforce addresses the overuse and misuse of prescription and illicit drugs. It works to prevent overdose deaths by engaging prevention, public health, and public safety partners. It also engages other sector partners, and community members to change practices and norms and connect the community to prevention, harm reduction, and treatment resources. A list of naloxone locations can be found on the San Diego County Health and Human Services’ Behavioral Health Services website.
IPS works alongside communities to build power, challenge systems of inequity, protect health and improve quality of life. IPS has a vision for safe, secure, vibrant and healthy communities where everyone can thrive. To learn more about IPS East County, follow us on our social media platforms: IPS East County Facebook, IPS East County Twitter, and East County Youth Coalition Instagram. Our website is at IPSEast.org. Resources and services are available to assist with screening, treatment, and recovery for individuals with a substance use disorder. The Access & Crisis line is open year-round, 24/7 at (888) 724-7240.
David R. Shorey is East County Program Manager for IPS. Courtesy photo.
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