Many illegal drug samples that contain xylazine have been discovered by Health Canada, raising alarm among experts. 

Xylazine is a pharmaceutical dope used for anesthesia, muscle relaxation, and sedation with animals like horses, cattle and other non-human mammals. The main problem is that this drug is not designed for humans.

“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” mentioned DEA Administrator Anne Milgram.

The tranquillizer is also very dangerous for animals if the dosage is imperfect. Imagine if it is mixed with illegal substances such as cocaine or opioids.  The tranquillizer acts as a depressant to the central nervous and respiratory systems. This creates overdoses and even death of the consumer. What makes it even more dangerous is the fact that it is sometimes mixed with fentanyl.

Some people even call the tranquillizer zombie drug or tranq dope in the street.

Overwhelmingly, in Ontario, its enforcement agencies tested positive for the tranquillizer. In the past years, xylazine has propagated across other countries.

Following covid and the shutting of boarders, “The drug supply is a mess right now,” said Joseph Friedman, an addiction researcher at UCLA.

Health Canada is an institution that helps Canadiens with improving their health.