What You Should Know About Xylazine

Xylazine is a potent non-opioid that makes a drug high last longer and is a popular street drug due to its low cost. Using Xylazine with other drugs such as fentanyl can lead to severe medical problems and death by overdose. Unfortunately, many people consume the drug without their knowledge.

Addiction to Xylazine can happen quickly but is hard to overcome without professional treatment. Design for Change Recovery in Lancaster, California seeks to help people overcome Xylazine addiction before adverse consequences occur. We provide a full continuum of care that addresses all aspects of Xylazine addiction for whole-person healing.

For those individuals who aren’t familiar with the dangers of Xylazine, the following information may help you avoid this deadly substance.

What Is Xylazine?

Xylazine is a veterinary tranquilizer and is not approved for use by humans. It is a central nervous system depressant used as a pain reliever and sedative for animals. However, in humans, the drug can result in respiratory failure, especially when used in combination with opioids or fentanyl. Nevertheless, the drug is readily available on the streets.

A study conducted in 2021 shows that fentanyl was present in 98.4% of Xylazine-related fatal overdoses. Also, about 23% of fentanyl powder seized in 2022 contained Xylazine, according to the DEA.

Street names for Xylazine mixed with fentanyl, heroin, or opioids include tranq, tranq dope, horse tranq, Rompun, and zombie drug. Generally, a kilogram of Xylazine powder costs less than $20. Since Xylazine is not a controlled substance, it’s easy for dealers to avoid detection by law enforcement.

How Do People Use Xylazine?

Many people who ingest Xylazine do so unknowingly. Xylazine can enhance the effects of street drugs such as fentanyl or other opioids. Drug dealers add Xylazine to their products because it’s cheaper and not easy to detect. Surprisingly, people who use Xylazine knowingly often combine it with opioids, alcohol, or benzodiazepines to get a stronger effect.

Some drug users mix Xylazine with other drugs and then snort, swallow, inject, or inhale the substance. The effects typically last 20 to 50 minutes.

Symptoms and Health Risks

Long-term use of Xylazine can cause serious skin problems such as necrotic ulcers, abscesses, and infections. The skin problems occur as a result of reduced blood flow caused by Xylazine that typically appears on the lower legs. The skin lesions can appear regardless of the route of ingestion and can penetrate the bone, leading to the need for amputation.

Other side effects of Xylazine include:

Dry mouth
Blurred vision
Slurred speech
Drowsiness
Sedation
Disorientation
Difficulty breathing
Dangerously low blood pressure
Low body temperature
Lack of motor control
Low heart rate
Loss of consciousness

Mixing Xylazine with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or fentanyl increases the severity of the above effects and may lead to a fatal overdose.

Does Naloxone Reverse Xylazine Overdose?

Naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse the effects of Xylazine. However, Narcan reverses the effects of the co-used opioid which can be a life-saving measure. Other life-saving measures may include CPR, 5-second rescue breaths, and medical care.

Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms

Like most other addictive substances, a person will experience withdrawal symptoms if Xylazine is withheld. Many cases involve withdrawal symptoms as a result of opioids used along with Xylazine. Although little is known about the severity of Xylazine withdrawal, people generally experience initial symptoms within 6 to 12 hours after the last use.

The following symptoms may appear within 8 to 24 hours after the last dose of Xylazine:

Anxiety
Irritability
Restlessness
Excessive sweating
Dysphoria
Hypertension

In addition to the above, severe withdrawal symptoms can include consistently elevated blood pressure and tachycardia.

Detox is the first step in overcoming Xylazine addiction. Detox addresses the physical aspect of addiction by cleansing the body of toxic chemicals left behind by addictive substances. After detox, we encourage clients to enter our rehabilitation program to help them address the psychological aspects of their substance use.

We offer outpatient or inpatient detox programs, depending on the client’s circumstances. For those who cannot take time off work or school or who have family obligations, our outpatient detox is the best option. However, our inpatient detox program is best for individuals with severe addictions.

At Design for Change, we provide standard detox and medical detox depending on each client’s unique situation. Our detox facility monitors clients 24/7 to ensure that we meet their needs in a safe and comfortable environment. No one should struggle with the challenges of withdrawal alone. For this reason, our compassionate staff and skilled medical professionals are always nearby to offer their support and advice.

Treatment for Xylazine Addiction at Design for Change Recovery

People can overcome Xylazine addiction with a comprehensive treatment program that targets the mental, physical, and emotional factors that contribute to substance use. With that in mind, Design for Change Recovery creates a personalized treatment plan based on each client’s specific needs.

Whether intentional or unintentional, Xylazine addiction will eventually lead to serious health problems if not treated professionally. As with any addiction, the sooner a person undergoes treatment, the easier their recovery process will be.

What do we mean by evidence-based treatment? Evidence-based addiction treatment focuses on the client, meaning the program does not force anyone into an impersonal, one-size-fits-all approach. First, a comprehensive assessment of each client’s situation provides information we use to develop their treatment plan. We then combine a range of therapies to address all aspects of their substance use to provide personalized care.

Our evidence-based therapies are thorough and scientifically proven to help individuals overcome any type of addiction. After detox, our clients progress through a customized treatment program that utilizes the following therapies:

Design for Change can be trusted to provide the high-quality addiction treatment clients deserve and expect. Furthermore, we are a fully licensed and JCAHO-accredited facility. This means we consistently meet or exceed the accreditation standards in terms of client safety and care.

Does Insurance Cover Addiction Treatment?

Many insurance companies provide full or partial coverage for addiction treatment programs. Design for Change is in-network with several major insurance providers to help clients get the treatment they need. If you need addiction treatment, contact us today to verify your insurance. We will work with your insurer to get the right level of care for your needs.

Some of the insurance companies we are in-network with:

Aetna
Anthem Blue Cross
Beacon Health Options | Carelon
Blue Cross
BlueCross and BlueShield
Carelon Behavioral Health
Cigna and Evernorth
ComPsych
GEHA
ILWU
Humana
Kaiser
Magellan
MHN | Health Net
MultiPlan
The Alliance
TRICARE
TriWest

To learn more about our Xylazine addiction treatment program, contact us by phone, email, or online to speak with a treatment advisor. We are here to help you conquer addiction so you can start living the life you want and deserve.

Sources:

nida.nih.gov/ – Xylazine
cdph.ca.gov/– Xylazine, Health Risks and Harm Reduction Strategies
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ – Evidence-Based Practices for Substance Use Disorders
psychologytoday.com/ – Experiential Therapy
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy