A powerful animal tranquilizer known as ‘trunk dope’ that can cause users to have their limbs amputated has ‘infiltrated’ the UK pharmaceutical market.
Xylazine, also known as tranq, has already been linked to 11 deaths in the UK.
The drug is most often mixed with powerful opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, but new research shows it has also been detected in counterfeit prescription pill pills, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) e-cigarettes, and cocaine. It is shown that there is.
The new study, published in the journal Addiction, warns of side effects such as airway compromise and skin ulcers, which can lead to limb amputation.
The researchers, led by academics at King’s College London, highlighted how the drug’s use has become a major concern in the US, and how this “public health threat has now extended to the UK”. he emphasized.
They focus on the death of a 43-year-old man in Solihull, West Midlands, in May 2022.
Their study looked at a range of toxicology, drug testing and drug seizure sources and found 35 xylazine cases across England, Scotland and Wales by the end of August last year. No cases were found in Northern Ireland.
They published data on 16 biological samples taken from a toxicology laboratory, where drugs were detected in 16 people, including 11 who died. About 11 of these samples were from last summer.
Lead author Dr Caroline Copeland from King’s College London said: “We know that xylazine has penetrated the UK illicit drug market.
“This is worrying because it exposes a much wider range of people who use drugs to harm than just heroin users.
“We also know that most people who buy heroin do not intend to buy xylazine, and this combination increases the risk of overdose. Xylazine has been designated as an ’emerging threat’ to the United States, and this Public health threats are a growing concern for the UK.
“There are three simple measures the UK can put in place to prevent the epidemic of xylazine use that is occurring in the US.” Signs that this is due to the use of xylazine should be recognized, and pathologists and coroners should specifically request toxicology testing for xylazine on related cases to understand the true prevalence of the drug. .”
A government spokesperson said: “We recognize the threat of xylazine and are determined to protect people from the threat posed by this drug and other illegal synthetic drugs.”
“We will act without hesitation to keep the public safe.Following advice from the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), we intend to make xylazine a Class C drug, and those who supply this substance is punishable by up to 14 years in prison, a fine, or both.
