Bills targeting ‘zombie drug’ move through Assembly

The House and Senate are both considering bills to criminalize an animal drug that has been increasingly detected in fentanyl-related deaths.

These bills would classify manufacturing, distributing and selling xylazine, the drug known as “tranq,” as a Class 5 felony, as well as possession with intent to do any of those things. Possessing xylazine with the intent to use it would become a Class 1 misdemeanor.

While it is commonly used in veterinary medicine, xylazine, a livestock sedative, is not approved for human use in any cases.

HB1187, originally introduced by Del. M. Keith Hodges (R- Gloucester), was reported (9-0) from the Senate Courts of Justice committee and referred to Finance and Appropriations this Wednesday. Similarly, SB614, introduced by Sen. Todd Pillion (R- Buchanan), was reported (22-0) from a House committee Wednesday. Both bills passed their respective houses unanimously earlier this month.

“In April, the Office of National Drug Control Policy officially designated adulterated fentanyl as associated with xylazine as an emerging threat in the United States,” Hodges said.  “So here you’re taking an animal tranquilizer that is a CNS depressant, muscle relaxant that causes severe hypotension in humans and putting that with something like an opioid and fentanyl. It’s a combination for disaster.”

When used by people, xylazine severely depresses the central nervous system, also slowing down heart rate and breathing. Users typically suffer from dangerously low blood pressure and extreme drowsiness.

These side effects can often resemble those from opioids, sometimes making it difficult to distinguish between the two. Research has shown that xylazine is often added to illicit opioids, especially fentanyl, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, blurring the line between the two even more. Some users have reported using xylazine as a way to extend the highs of other drugs.

Unlike opioids, however, the effects of xylazine cannot be reversed from naloxone, leaving it with no known antidote safe for human use.

Using xylazine can also result in severe lesions and sores, sometimes so deep that bone is visible. This can lead to necrosis, and in some cases, requires amputation. This is most common at injection sites, but can occur as a result from snorting, swallowing or inhaling the drug as well.

The combination of all these effects has caused the drug to be dubbed the “zombie drug.”

The bills also specify that there would be no offense when the drug is for approved veterinary uses, only when intended for human consumption.

“This is a very critical drug in the veterinary community. It is the only sedative that can be used in cattle, so our beef and daily industry depend on this drug. It is also the number one capture and release drug used for wildlife,” said Susan Seward from the VA Veterinary Medicine Association in a House subcommittee earlier this month.