Fentanyl and Xylazine, a deadly drug mixture

Xylazine, also known as TranQ, is a drug so powerful Narcan doesn’t even reverse its effects and is a powerful sedative that vets use on animals.

The DEA is warning that it’s seeing an increase in deaths from Xylazine.

The drug was never intended for people to use. It’s an animal sedative that illegal drug makers use to make fentanyl cheaper. And while it may be cheaper, it’s also more lethal.

Examples of Xylazine necrosis are too graphic to be shown on TV, but behind the blurred images are open wounds and rotting flesh.

Ashley Moody, Florida’s Attorney General, wants everyone to know what happens when people use Xylazine.

“Their limbs are rotting away from the injection of this substance, some have to have their land limbs amputated. So in seeking a high, they are literally risking life and limb,” Moody said.

When someone uses Xylazine, it tightens or constricts the blood vessels, which increases blood pressure. Fentanyl cut with Xylazine makes fentanyl more lethal.

Additionally, it does not respond to opioid overdose reversal drugs like Naloxone and Narcan. Maggie Baldwin is the clinical director of the Crossroads Program at the David Lawrence Center.

“A lot of times, folks who think they’re, they’re just getting cocaine or a pill, it’s probably going to have fentanyl, and clients don’t know that. And then if you if you’re not aware of that, then you’re more likely to overdose,” Baldwin said.

Deborah Comella is the executive director of Drug Free Lee.

“For fentanyl, we’re absolutely trying to educate them about also preventing the use of tranq. Which of course, you don’t know if it’s going to be in there or not. But it’s it’s a devastating drug. I mean, it’s just it’s it’s like out of a horror movie,” Comella said.

The attorney general issued her warning in Sarasota County because there are 30 official deaths due to the drug there. WINK News called but couldn’t get answers as to whether there are any such deaths in Lee County.