What is Tranq? Understanding the Dangers of Xylazine in Street Drugs

Xylazine is a central nervous system depressant; it is colloquially known as tranq. Interestingly, Xylazine is a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for veterinary use. However, it has found its way into the market as tranq, known for being a non-opioid sedative analgesic medication. It must be kept in mind that tranq has still not been approved for human use.

Apart from being an illicit substance, tranq is also highly dangerous as it can lead to life-threatening conditions. So, in this blog, we shall seek to understand what is tranq and its dangers so that one may be well aware before seeking to consume it.

What Is Tranq?

Xylazine or tranq was first created in 1962 and has been consistently used by veterinarians to tranquilize animals and even as a pain relief medication. Xylazine brand names it is commonly sold under are AnaSed, Chanazine, Rompun, and Sedazine. It is also known as horse tranquilizer. Xylazine was never approved for human use and still is not now. Nevertheless, tranq has been used as an additive with substances like cocaine, fentanyl, and heroin. When mixed with other opioids, it is known as tranq dope. Tranq has a great potential for dependence and even abuse.

Tranq, when mixed with other illicit substances, can lead to many health complications and life-threatening conditions. One of the most terrible effects of tranq is that it can cause necrotic skin ulcers, which is why tranq drug has also come to be known as a zombie drug.

How Xylazine (Tranq) is Used in Street Drugs?

Xylazine or tranq is commonly used with other illicit drugs. Majorly, this involves opioids like fentanyl. Usually, fentanyl is laced with the tranq drug to prolong the feeling of a high or euphoria, which refers to a rush of pleasurable feelings. Tranq is then usually smoked, snorted, inhaled, injected, or even swallowed.

However, some people who have used tranq along with other substances like fentanyl (tranq dope) have also reported not liking its effects and suggest that it is an unwanted additive that they could very well do without.

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Effects of Tranq on the Body

Tranq is known for its sedative or tranquilizing effects. It slows down brain activity and creates a relaxing effect; it induces feelings of drowsiness and slows down the heart rate and breathing rate as well.

While this is why tranq can be appealing, it has very drastic unwanted or side effects as well. Repeated tranq use leads to necrotic skin ulcers. This is a very alarming condition, as these ulcers have a dark colorization and emit an unpleasant odor. However, apart from it, they are dangerous in that they are painful and erode the skin layers and expose the underlying tissues. For this reason, tranq has also been called a zombie drug. While these skin ulcers can be treated, albeit with great difficulty, in extreme cases, the only way to manage them is amputation.

Apart from the above, as tranq is injected, sharing needles or syringes can lead to other effects like the risk of bacterial infections, infective endocarditis (a heart condition), and even hepatitis C and HIV infections.

Is Tranq Legal?

Xylazine or tranq is not an FDA-approved medication for human use. As it is commonly used on animals, it is available under a veterinarian’s prescription. It is not illegal in the U.S. as of yet. However, as the prevalence and dangers of tranq are becoming known, some states like New York are beginning to tighten the laws around xylazine, where it is designated as a controlled substance, meaning it is illegal to sell or use. In fact, very recently, as of 2023, even FDA took the step to restrict any unlawful import of xylazine.

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Why Tranq is So Dangerous?

Tranq is dangerous for many reasons. First one is its role in the overdose crisis. Xylazine has emerged as a growing reason for the overdose crisis in the U.S. As per the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s report, “Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl–Involved Overdose Deaths with Detected Xylazine — United States, January 2019–June 2022,” fentanyl-related overdose deaths involving the use of xylazine increased 276% between 2019 and 2022. In fact, xylazine has also been present in 1.8% of overdose-related deaths.

Some of the symptoms of tranq overdose are low blood pressure, slowed heart rate, and a lack of breathing. The dangerous thing about tranq overdose is that the common opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone do not have any effect. Therefore, if anybody is experiencing these symptoms, it is vital to call emergency services (like 9-1-1 in the U.S.) immediately.

Apart from its role in the overdose crisis, the other of tranq side effects or unwanted effects are as follows:

• Necrotic skin ulcers (a very severe, dangerous condition that can lead to amputation in severe cases)
• Persistent skin infections
• Drowsiness
• Sedation
• Memory difficulties like amnesia
• Miosis (small eye pupils)
• Low and high blood sugar conditions
• Slowed wound healing
• Low blood pressure
• Slowed breathing and heart rate
• Slowed activity of the central nervous system

Signs of Tranq Use?

• Some signs of tranq use are as follows:
• Frequent nodding off
• Sedation
• Slow and shallowed breathing
• Low blood pressure and heart rate
• Skin infections
• Severe skin ulcers, especially at injection sites

If these signs are noticed, then it is important to contact the nearby healthcare providers immediately. Tranq use is highly dangerous and can lead to a number of health complications and life-threatening conditions. In severe cases, it can also cause coma or death.

Treatment for Tranq Addiction and Overdose

Tranq overdose is a life-threatening condition. As tranq is often used with opioids like fentanyl, it further complicates overdose treatment as the general opioid overdose reversal medications like Naloxone do not work. Several doses of the medication are needed generally. Moreover, supportive care involving fluids administered intravenously and saline eye irrigation are provided. As tranq overdose slows down heart rate and breathing, vitals are constantly monitored and heart medications as well as support for breathing is provided.

Meanwhile, treating tranq abuse requires more than just treating symptoms. As tranq can lead to intensely unpleasant withdrawal symptoms in case the drug is abruptly stopped, the first step of treatment is medically-supervised detoxification where the tranq drug is slowly tapered off to minimize and manage withdrawal symptoms.

Psychotherapeutic interventions also help uncover the underlying reasons for tranq abuse and lead to lasting recovery:

Motivational interviewing, where the focus is on reducing the ambivalence to tranq use and instilling the internal motivation to overcome the same.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to identify and challenge the negative thinking, emotional, and behavioral patterns leading to tranq use and equip the person with healthy coping strategies to deal with cravings, triggers, and toxic relationships.

Contingency management is a behavioral technique that seeks to reward and reinforce positive behavior like abstinence.

Moreover, joining informal peer groups following the 12-step recovery program like Narcotics Anonymous (NA) will help in finding a safe space to share experiences, encouragement, and take the ownership of one’s own recovery.

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Safety Tips

While tranq use is difficult to overcome, there are some safety tips or harm reduction strategies that one can use to reduce the dangers of the drug:

• Test any substance with test strips before using it. Usually, people report that tranq is an unnecessary additive, so carry test strips to test for the presence of tranq before using any substance.
• Only use tranq in low doses. This will help prevent misuse and abuse and also reduce the risks of overdose.
• Never use tranq alone. Always use it in the presence of a trusted person and in safe, controlled conditions so that emergency services can be immediately called in case of potential risks and dangers.
• Do not inject tranq, as it can lead to severe skin ulcers known as necrotic skin ulcers. Moreover, seeking immediate medical treatment for any skin condition while using tranq will reduce severe risks like necrosis and amputation.
• Keep naloxone nearby. Naloxone is an opioid overdose reversal medication and can be used by anybody in emergency conditions. It comes in the form of a nasal spray and shots. While it may not have any effect on tranq, it is still safe to keep it around.

If anyone is struggling with tranq use, then taking proactive steps toward health and safety can be a life-saving move. For further medical advice and professional advice, reach out to the NuView Treatment Center today.