Xylazine is a drug used in veterinary medicine as a sedative with analgesic and muscle relaxant properties. It is used on many different animal species such as cattle, sheep, horses, dogs, cats, deer, rats, and elk to calm and facilitate handling, perform diagnostic and surgical procedures, relieve pain, or act as a local anesthetic.
Reports, alerts, and advisories indicate an increased xylazine prevalence as an adulterant in drugs of abuse mixtures. This non-narcotic agent was first synthesized in 1962 by the Bayer Company. Xylazine has been studied in humans for its potential use as an analgesic, hypnotic, and anesthetic, but these clinical trials were terminated due to its severe hypotension and central nervous system depressant effects.
Xylazine is not approved for human use. Besides its use as an adulterant, reports have also demonstrated that xylazine was used in Drug Facilitated Crimes (DFC) to induce sleep.
The National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) is a DEA database that collects scientifically verified drug data. Xylazine was identified in over 3,800 NFLIS-DRUG reports from 2015 through December 2020, with each progressing year increasing compared to the previous year with the largest recording in 2020 of 1,492 reports. Many public health departments and poison control centers issued advisories and alerts while seizure activity have also been reported nationwide with large quantities found in PA, CT, and CA.
Innova’s xylazine test strips are an essential tool for anyone working with samples that may contain this drug.
They offer a fast, reliable, and cost-effective solution for detecting the presence of this powerful sedative, helping professionals to make informed decisions and provide the best possible care.
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You can also reach out directly to Kimberly Brown atKimberly@innovapharmaceuticals.com.
