This week, state Attorney General Ashley Moody warned Floridians about the flesh-eating “zombie drug,” xylazine, also known as “tranq.”
Xylazine is a Schedule I controlled substance in Florida, meaning it is a crime to possess or sell in the state. This week, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning about the sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
“Floridians need to be aware that xylazine is making one of the deadliest drugs in history, fentanyl, even deadlier. Xylazine is a sedative, and therefore resistant to standard opioid reversal treatments such as Narcan. There has never been a more dangerous time to take a chance on any illicit substance, and this drug is only making the problem worse. I’m urging everyone to never use illicit drugs, just one pill or one use can kill,” Moody said.
According to the DEA, xylazine and fentanyl mixtures have been seized in 48 states, including Florida. DEA lab system reports show that, in 2022, approximately 23 percent of fentanyl powder and 7 percent of fentanyl pills seized contained xylazine. People who use xylazine may develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue that may lead to amputation.
According to a recent news report, at least 236 Floridians died last year with xylazine in their system.
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