A skin-rotting drug that turns users into 'zombies' through laced pills has become the leading cause of death for adults aged 18 to 42 in America, a doctor has claimed.
A terrifying trend of contaminated fentanyl flooding the illicit drug market has seen a large amount of drugs being laced with Xylazine, a veterinary tranquillizer also known as 'Tranq'.
It has caused a spike in the drug overdose crisis in the United States with users losing limbs through major skin infections.
The latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that 105,752 people died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending October 2021.
While most of these overdoses involved the synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts warn that the adulterated and contaminated drug supply is also contributing to the problem.
Xylazine is used as a tranquillizer for large animals such as horses, and it is not intended for human use.
However, drug dealers have been adding it to heroin, cocaine, and other illicit drugs to increase their potency and profit margins.
Xylazine is particularly concerning because it can be deadly even in small amounts, and it has a longer half-life than fentanyl, meaning it stays in the body longer and is more difficult to reverse with overdose-reversal drugs like naloxone.
Dr Eric D. Collins, a clinical psychologist and addiction specialist, warns that laced pills have become the leading cause of death for adults aged 18 to 42 in America.
He states that young people should be aware of the extreme danger posed by pills that they might buy, as the zombie drug containing the tranquillizer Xylazine can cause serious skin infections that can lead to gangrene and amputation.
Gangrene is a serious condition where a loss of blood supply causes body tissue to die and typically starts in the toes, feet, fingers and hands.
Dr Collins told the US Sun: "We've seen some people with multiple amputations of different parts of their body."
He also warns that drug dealers often use familiar branding to trick users into getting hooked faster on substances containing fentanyl and tranquillizers.
He added: "Anybody who doesn't get a prescription medication from a known pharmacy prescribed by a doctor appropriately would be worried in 2023.
"Laced pills have become the leading cause of death among people 18 to 40... We should get the word out."
Dr Collins stressed the importance of education and the quality of information about the subject.
He said: "There's a lot of stigma around substance use and it can be hard to talk about. I think families can get education about how to talk to their children. It can have an important impact."
The Mirror reported in February how for more than a decade, drug dealers have been cutting tranq with heroin to sell on the streets.
But now the substance has gained a following on its own.
Doctors dealing with those who take the drug have noted it rots peoples' skin where they inject it, with people finding sores and ulcers and - in the worst cases - face amputation of their limbs.
Dr. Gary Tsai, the director of substance abuse prevention and control for the LA County Department of Public Health, told the LA Times: “It’s not that common yet, but similar to fentanyl, it was more prevalent in the East Coast and it’s moving west, this is something that’s concerning.
“The main concern is we're already amid the worst overdose crisis in history, nationally and locally.
"This would increase deaths from overdoses."
The Drug Enforcement Agency said in a report it is sometimes used on its own, but also combined with other drugs such as fentanyl, cocaine and heroin.
Its use started on the streets of Puerto Rico before being found in the United States.
A report by the DEA said: “The prevalence of xylazine is increasing, spreading beyond the traditional white-powder heroin markets in the northeastern United States where it has been seen for several years.
“Xylazine vials have been encountered at locations operating as local stash houses or in the homes of polydrug dealers, indicating the mixture with other drugs happens at the retail level, though it cannot be determined how frequently.
“Xylazine, reported as an adulterant in an increasing number of illicit drug mixtures, has also been detected in a growing number of overdose deaths.
“It is commonly encountered in combination with fentanyl but has also been detected in mixtures containing cocaine, heroin, and a variety of other drugs.
“However, xylazine is most frequently reported in combinations with two or more substances present.
“In addition to its presence in drug combinations, xylazine (often known as tranq) is used on its own, though this is less frequently reported.
“Limited scientific research has been conducted on the effects of xylazine on the human body.”
