Xylazine Misuse is on the Rise — Learn About the Drug’s Misconceptions

Over the past few years, a drug called xylazine has appeared more frequently in the illicit drug supply. It’s often taken unintentionally because it’s commonly found mixed into other substances, most notably illicitly manufactured fentanyl.

Awareness can be a meaningful form of protection. Understanding what xylazine is, how it appears, and the common misconceptions can help individuals, families, and communities respond with greater clarity and safety.

What is xylazine?

Xylazine is a veterinary medication approved for use in animals as a tranquilizer, pain reliever, and central nervous system depressant.

Xylazine:

• Is not approved for human use.
• Is not an opioid, even though it is frequently found in opioid supplies.
• May be referred to as “tranq” or “tranq dope.”

People may be exposed to xylazine through different routes of use, including injecting, snorting, swallowing, or inhaling, depending on what substance it’s mixed into and how it’s taken.

How is xylazine being misused?

Xylazine is most often reported as an additive. It may be present in a substance without the person’s knowledge.

It’s commonly found alongside fentanyl, but it’s also been detected in mixtures involving other substances. Some individuals may seek it out intentionally, believing it can extend fentanyl’s effects, while others report unwanted exposure, learning only afterward that xylazine was present.

This “unknown ingredient” reality is one reason xylazine is such a critical topic. Risk increases when people can’t reliably know what they’re taking.

How xylazine affects the body

Xylazine is a central nervous system depressant. It can:

• Cause extreme drowsiness or heavy sedation.
• Slow breathing to dangerous levels.
• Lower heart rate.
• Lower blood pressure.

At certain doses, especially when combined with other depressants, these effects can become life-threatening. The risk is heightened because xylazine is frequently found alongside substances that can also suppress breathing, such as opioids like fentanyl, alcohol, and benzodiazepines.

Why xylazine can complicate overdose response

Opioid overdose reversal medications like naloxone don’t reverse xylazine’s effects. However, you should still administer naloxone in any suspected overdose, because xylazine exposure most often occurs alongside opioids, and naloxone may still reverse the opioid portion of the overdose.

The safest next step is to call 9-1-1 or local emergency services because sedation and slowed breathing can continue even after naloxone is given.

Wounds and soft tissue damage

Xylazine is also associated with painful, difficult-to-treat skin and soft tissue wounds, including open sores, abscesses, and wounds that can become infected and lead to dying tissue.

These wounds can appear at injection sites, but can also appear elsewhere on the body. In some cases, wounds can appear even when xylazine is used without injection. When left untreated, severe infections may result in major complications, including hospitalization or even amputation.

Common misconceptions about xylazine

Misinformation can delay lifesaving decisions. The following are several misconceptions regarding xylazine misuse:

Misconception 1: “Xylazine is just another opioid.”

Xylazine isn’t an opioid. It is a sedative used in veterinary medicine. It may be present in opioid supplies, but it works differently in the body.

Misconception 2: “Naloxone won’t help if xylazine is involved.”

Naloxone doesn’t reverse xylazine, but it can still reverse opioids that are commonly present in xylazine-involved overdoses.

Misconception 3: “Those wounds are a hygiene issue.”

Xylazine-related wounds can be a direct and severe medical complication associated with repeated exposure and may require professional treatment.

What this means for addiction treatment and recovery

Because xylazine has emerged relatively recently, research is still evolving around questions like withdrawal, substance use disorder criteria, and best practices for wound management.

For individuals and families, recognize that today’s drug supply carries new, unpredictable risks, and that treatment and recovery supports must be equipped to respond to those realities with compassion and medical expertise.

When to seek help for xylazine misuse

If you are concerned about xylazine exposure for yourself or someone you care about, support is available.

Consider seeking care if you notice:

• Ongoing sedation, “nodding,” or episodes of unresponsiveness.
• Skin wounds that are worsening, painful, or not healing.
• Signs of infection (spreading redness, warmth, swelling, and fever).
• Increasing dependence, cravings, or inability to stop using despite consequences.

Addiction recovery begins with a single step. Talk to someone who can help you assess what’s happening and what support makes sense next.

Awareness is harm reduction and a pathway to recovery

Education delivered without stigma can help people make safer decisions and seek care sooner. If you or a loved one is struggling with xylazine misuse, you don’t have to navigate it alone. Treatment and recovery are possible, and support can be tailored to your needs.

If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction or co-occurring disorders, call the New England Recovery Center today at 1-877-MyRehab.