Why the U.S. designated the animal tranquilizer xylazine an emerging threat
Ali Rogin:
Geoff, this week, the Biden administration declared the combination of that sedative, xylazine, and the opioid fentanyl a — quote — "emerging threat."
It's the first time any drug has been given that designation. Veterinarians have been legally using xylazine, often referred to as tranq, for 50 years, but it made its way into U.S. street drugs sometime in the early 2000s. And in the past two years, its use has spiked nationwide.
Joining me now is Dr. Raagini Jawa. She's an assistant professor and clinician investigator at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Jawa, thank you so much for joining us.
You regularly treat people who have been using xylazine. What are some of the symptoms that you commonly see?
Dr. Raagini Jawa, University of Pittsburgh: So I'm an infectious disease and addiction medicine provider, and I take care of patients in the Pittsburgh area, not only at our local needle exchange or syringe service program, but also in our addiction treatment clinic and in the hospital.
And a lot of my patients coming in for the last year have been exhibiting increasing symptoms of wounds and more complicated overdoses. And they have just been telling me: "You know, Doc, something doesn't feel right. And I'm having new symptoms that I haven't had when I was just using fentanyl or heroin alone."
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7sa7SZ6arn1%2Bjsri%2Fx6isq2ejnby4e9ahsGasmJp6tnnSZpueq5mcu6LAxJ1kraCVYq6vtcyao2asopa7ssHIpaCznaJixbq4wLOgp51dlrtuscyeqaChnpx6tbTRnpit