Zombie Drug? The Threat of Mixing Fentanyl and Xylazine

US authorities are playing a constant game of whack-a-mole with drug traffickers. As they crack down on one drug, another pops up to take its place as authorities’ attention is diverted. Some of these new drugs can have weird and even terrifying effects.  

Rainbow fentanyl was one example; the zombie drug Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer that is mixed with fentanyl, is another. It’s called the zombie drug because one of its side effects is that the user’s skin rots off. It’s increasingly being found in the supply of opioids like heroin and fentanyl.  Xylazine sores can appear anywhere on the body. They start as small, red bumps but can develop into deep, open sores if not cleaned and dressed in fresh bandages daily. 

In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know about this terrifying new drug Xylazine. 

What Is a Zombie Drug? 

The term “zombie drug” colloquially refers to a drug combination that typically includes xylazine and fentanyl, two potent substances that, when mixed, can have severe, debilitating effects on users. This nickname stems from, on the one hand, fentanyl’s profound stupor-like state it induces in users, and on the other, how xylazine causes skin to rot. 

Xylazine, known on the street and to law enforcement as “tranq,” was originally developed as a sedative for animals such as horses and deer. Starting in 2020 it’s increasingly found its way into illicit drug markets, particularly as an adulterant in opioids. It is not approved for human use in the United States, making its side effects on humans largely undocumented and potentially dangerous.  

The combination of xylazine and fentanyl is particularly dangerous because xylazine is not an opioid and therefore does not respond to opioid overdose reversal drugs like naloxone. This complicates the treatment for overdose, as the typical life-saving measures may not be effective against the xylazine component of the mixture. This could potentially lead to more overdose deaths.  

Why Do They Call It Zombie Drugs? 

This mixture of xylazine and fentanyl is so dangerous because xylazine can be used to enhance fentanyl’s already-powerful sedative effects. It can create a more intense high, which may increase the drug’s addictive potential. This can lead to higher user dependency, resulting in repeat customers for dealers in the drug market. 

This enhanced sedation, combined with the skin-rotting effects of xylazine, is why people have taken to using the term “zombie drug” to describe it.  

Why is Tranq Dangerous? 

“Tranq,” also known as “tranq dope,” was never meant for human consumption. One of the most alarming risks associated with tranq consumption is nasty skin sores and infections. People on Tranq can actually experience their flesh rot away while they are still alive. Tranq skin wounds, also known as “xylazine wounds,” can develop rapidly and are often difficult to treat. This is a big reason tranq is also known as “the zombie drug.” 

Because drug dealers are increasingly cutting heroin and fentanyl with xylazine, there is an added danger that the drug is harder to detect. Xylazine is not typically screened for in standard drug tests. This can make the zombie drug more appealing to users who are subject to regular drug testing but still want to use opioids. 

Finally, because it’s not an opioid, xylazine is completely unaffected by naloxone, making it harder to resuscitate people who have overdosed.