Recently, you must have heard about the ‘Zombie Drug’ in the news. The seriousness of the issue can be imagined by the statement of The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)– ” Deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced.”
Table of Contents
What is Zombie Drug
‘Zombie Drug’ is a Colloquial (informal) term used for some drugs including Xylazine (currently in the USA), Deso-morphine and alpha-PVP (alpha-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone, also known as Flakka).
Recently USA has been facing the threat of Xylazine which is informally known as Zombie drug.
Why called Zombie Drugs
Some drugs including Xylazine are used as adulterants to increase potency in opioids and like substances or for some other benefits in the illicit drug market. The side effects of such drugs (like xylazine), especially the dermal and central nervous system side effects are so grave that, they may make its users appear like Zombies.
Adverse effects of Zombie Drugs
Actually, Xylazine has a similar action as Heroin, thus it is commonly used as an adulterant in the illicit drug market.
it has many side effects like
- bradycardia, respiratory depression, hypotension, and transient hypertension.
- Other possible side effects that can occur are areflexia, asthenia (physical weakness), ataxia (difficulty with walking and balance), blurred vision, disorientation, dizziness, drowsiness, dysarthria (difficulty speaking), fainting, hyporeflexia, coma, shallow breathing, sleepiness, increased heart rate, miosis (small pupil of eyes), and dry mouth.
- Chronic intravenous use of xylazine can cause dependence, abscesses and skin ulceration, sometimes leading to progressive necrosis. All these side effects of Xylazine can make a person appear as a Zombie.
list of Zombie Drugs
The list includes but not limited to:-
- Xylazine.
- Desomorphine and
- alpha-PVP (alpha-Pyrrolidinovalerophenone, also known as Flakka).
Xylazine is the one in the news nowadays in the USA.
About the Zombie drug – Xylazine
Xylazine (Zombie drug) is not approved for human use but is used by veterinary doctors for sedation, anaesthesia and muscle relaxation in animals such as horses, cattle, and other non-human mammals. it has several central nervous system depressant effects and People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis.
Fatal Dose of Zombie Drug
Toxic or fatal doses of Xylazine vary widely between 40mg to 2.4 grams.
Xylazine rarely causes the overdose alone, it is the Fentanyl or similar compounds that contain the Xylazine. A study of 210 xylazine-related deaths in Chicago from 2017 to 2021 found that fentanyl or a chemically similar substance was detected in 99.1% of overdose cases. (source: KHNL)
Zombie Drug and USA
Currently, USA is facing the havoc of zombie drugs and the DEA is very much worried about it. Xylazine has become a drug of abuse in the United States, where it is known by the street name “tranq” or “tranq dope” and “zombie drug”.
Xylazine has more recently been found in Fentanyl and other illegal drugs. it is causing deadly effects in several major cities across the United States.
DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States.
In 2021, Philadelphia law enforcement reported that 90% of opioid samples on the street contained xylazine. (-KHNL).
The DEA Lab System has reported that in the year 2022, approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.” (-https://www.dea.gov/)
xylazine is not illegal as is used by equine veterinarians. It is diverted from veterinary stocks and used as a cutting agent for heroin, causing skin sores and infections at injection sites, as well as other health issues.
Xylazine (zombie drug) is adulterated with drugs used for recreational purposes, to increase the potency (high), and to reduce the withdrawal side effects, because of its low cost and other cheap benefits.
When a user takes opioids or other drugs for recreational purposes they take Xylazine unknowingly adulterated in it. Xylazine thus produces side effects in its users, which are grave and difficult to manage.
The government is going to add xylazine to the drug list under ‘schedule III’ drugs to be able to bring it into the ambit of the law. The government is also tracing the origin of this havoc and advising people to refrain from the drugs used for recreational purposes.
Does My Medicine Contain Zombie Drug
Mostly Xylazine and other zombie drugs are adulterated in drugs used for recreational purposes (abusive purposes). If your medicines are non-opioid and even opioids prescribed by the physician, purchased from an organized sector, they don’t contain Zombie drugs.
How to Identify the Zombie Drug
In User:-
Since Xylazine has a similar action as that of opioid drugs, It is very difficult to identify the Zombie drug based on clinical signs and symptoms present in the user.
The detection of xylazine in biological fluids in humans involves various screening methods, such as:-
- Urine screenings,
- Thin layer chromatography (TLC),
- Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
- liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)
In Drugs:-
Recently, the Department of Public Health – City of Philadelphia has evaluated the rapid test strips for Xylazine, manufactured by BTNX. It concluded that the performance of strips was acceptable with 100% sensitivity, 85% specificity and 91% precision.
The antidote of Zombie Drug
Currently, there is no antidote available for the xylazine (Zombie drug). The patient is given the antidote for the opioids which can reverse the effects of the opioid drugs but not that of Xylazine. Opioid antidote is still given since we don’t know whether opioids are causing the symptoms or adulterant xylazine.
How to Tackle Zombie Drug
Do not get involved in the illicit drug market in any form. we should join hands with the Government in enforcing the laws against drugs. Aware and sensitize the youth and teenagers on illicit drugs. Stringent actions against producers, possessors and sellers of such drugs.
Treating the Patient taking Zombie Drug
A number of Medicines are used by physicians including Antagonists of CNS depressants but research-based standardization of the treatment is still awaited. Supportive Treatment is the mainstay treatment currently. it includes but not limited to:-
- Maintaining respiratory functions and other vitals like blood pressure.
- Maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance
- Proper wound management of ulcers, if any
- Indoor observation.
Zombie Drug in India
There are no reports of Xylazine (Zombie drugs) in India so far. India has a robust reporting system at all health care facilities but no such reports have been received so far. Even though, we must be vigilant on the issue and be prepared beforehand.
Lessons Learnt
illegal drug trafficking has been an issue in every country. first of all, we must prevent our young generation from falling into the trap of drugs. law agencies should be a step ahead of offenders leaving no loopholes behind. Quick and prompt action on cases of drug trafficking. Those who got entrapped should have an accessible and quality de-addiction centre.
resource list:-
- CDC
- DEA– Drug Enforcement Administration, USA
