The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a caution against a recent spike in fentanyl distribution now being mixed with xylazine. Xylazine is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-2 adrenergic agonists. It is commonly used in veterinary medicine as a sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant for large animals, such as horses and cattle.

 

Because of its deadly effects as a “tranq”, the American public is being made aware of its presence in the epidemic of fentanyl trafficking as possibly the deadliest drug threat the country has yet faced. Xylazine works by acting on the central nervous system, specifically by stimulating certain receptors in the brain that help to reduce pain and induce sedation. It is often used in combination with other medications, such as opioids or local anesthetics, to achieve a deeper level of sedation or anesthesia.

 

However, xylazine is not an opioid in and of itself which means naloxone will not aid in reversing the effects. Xylazine is often used as a cutting agent for heroin and other opioids, while fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that is often sold illegally as a substitute for heroin or other opioids. Xylazine is relatively inexpensive and can enhance the effects of heroin, making it more potent and potentially more addictive than the deadly fentanyl already is. 

 

AAVCOR specializes in worksite safety, offering on-site medical and nursing services to high-risk construction and industrial areas. Included in those services are hair, nail, and urine drug testing to make sure all on-site workers are not only safe from potential physical risks but from potential addiction and the resulting effects as well.

 

Regular toxicology screenings aren’t known to detect xylazine, and while urine drug testing is a proven method, it only detects drug use for a very recent time period. Hair and nail testing offers results that extend up to 180 days prior, making them optimal choices to test employees against drug use. 

 

To learn more about how AAVCOR provides their drug testing or to utilize their services, visit their website at https://aavcor.com/ or their drug testing page at https://aavcor.com/hair-and-nail-drug-screening/. 

 

Contact:

Luke Wright

(918) 253-6628