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AUTHORITIES ARE putting the word out about a new trend in drug use that is making fentanyl even deadlier.
The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration hosted a press conference via video to discuss the animal tranquilizer Xylazine being found in fentanyl. Also known as "Tranq," the non-opiate sedative is being cut with fentanyl and is being found across the country. Instances of the drug combination has been found in 48 states; only South Dakota and Wyoming have not reported the drug.
Mark Totten, U.S. attorney for the western district of Michigan, and special agent Orville Greene of the DEA in Detroit spoke to media in Michigan, Ohio and northern Kentucky via video this past week.
Totten said the country is in the "third wave" of the opioid epidemic, starting with prescription drugs, then heroin and thirdly the synthetic, cheap opioid fentanyl, which Totten said was seemingly in endless supply and "incredibly lethal."
"It's because of fentanyl that the United States is experiencing the highest number of drug poisonings ever reported," Totten said. "Xylazine makes the crisis even worse, because it is not reversible by Naloxone and because of the hideous effects it can have on those who use it."
Totten said while their offices are working to disrupt drug supply lines and prosecute dealers, the problem calls for community efforts including medical professionals, counselors and social services providers.
Greene called Xylazine an "emerging trend" being tracked in Michigan.
"When fentanyl is mixed with Xylazine, it is even deadlier," he said, adding Xylazine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for veterinary use and is not a controlled substance under the U.S. Controlled Substances Act.
In Ohio, however, it is classified as a Schedule 3 controlled substance as of March.
Greene added that Schedule 3 substances have a "low to moderate" potential for physical and psychological dependence.
"Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures present a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning, as both drugs depress the respiratory function," he said, adding that since it is not an opiate, Naloxone will not reverse its effects. Experts still recommend administering Naloxone to someone who might be suffering drug poisoning.
Greene said people who ingest Xylazine also run the risk of severe wounds, possibly leading to necrosis and amputation.
Greene said dealers lace fentanyl with Xylazine because it is cheap and allows them to reduce the amount of fentanyl used. He said Xylazine is authorized for veterinary use, and one does not have to produce credentials to purchase it.
He said Xylazine is becoming more prevalent across the country, including in Ohio. He noted state-level labs have only recently begun testing for Xylazine, with discoveries correspondingly rising.
Locally, Belmont County Sheriff David Lucas said he is consulting with his department's criminal investigation unit to determine if there have been instances related to Xylazine.
St. Clairsville Police Chief Matt Arbenz said his office has little information so far.
"That drug until very recently was not on the controlled substance list that the state would test for," he said via email. "Hence we have no data because there hadn't been testing for it."
Drug overdoses have been frequent in Belmont County, with several fatal overdoses in late February and early March due to a suspected "bad batch" of heroin circulating among users.