Tranq: DEA officials say xylazine-fentanyl mix has been found in Arizona
Tranq: DEA officials warn of sharp increase in new deadly drug
According to officials, Tranq, also known as Xylazine, can be mixed with fentanyl powder to make pills, and the drug was originally approved for veterinary use. FOX 10's Stephanie Bennett reports.
PHOENIX - Officials with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration are warning Americans of a sharp increase in a new deadly drug that is informally known as "tranq."
Read More: DEA issues dire US warning of fentanyl mixed with flesh-eating 'tranq' drug
The drug, which is officially known as xylazine, is originally approved by the FDA for veterinary use, but traffickers are mixing it with fentanyl, and the effects are pretty disturbing.
"The harm that can come from this is extraordinary," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Cheri Oz. "What could possibly be next, and then, here it is, this zombie drug that is rotting off our limbs."
Tranq can be mixed with fentanyl powder to make pills. People who inject the drug mixture can develop severe wounds, rotting human tissue, that could lead to amputation.
The DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 out of 50 states, including in Arizona.
"We are seeing 23% of all the fentanyl powder in the United States last year actually contained a mixture of xylazine as well," said Oz.
The mixture of the two drugs places users at a higher risk of death, and narcan won’t help reverse the effects. For now, the DEA wants everyone to remain on high alert.
"The woman and men of DEA don’t give up. We are going to help win this. We are going to turn this around. We are going to go after the supply and the demand," said Oz.
Meanwhile, FDA officials are also taking action by restricting the unlawful import of xylazine.
(Related Video) DEA officials educating students about the dangers of fentanyl
Amid a significant increase is the number of young children in the U.S. who died from opioid overdoses, several school districts in the Phoenix area are doing their part in protecting children. On Mar. 30, one West Valley school district had the DEA and National Guard stop by to teach students how to protect themselves. FOX 10's Stephanie Bennett reports.