Teesside charity concerned as 'tranq dope' drug found in the UK
Experts say the powerful animal tranquiliser is in the illegal drug market
A Teesside charity say they are concerned a powerful animal tranquiliser known as 'tranq dope' is now circulating in the UK.
It has already spread through the US and researchers say xylazine can be very harmful to humans.
'With You' supports people with drug, alcohol or mental health issues in Darlington, Redcar and Cleveland.
Abigail Wilson, lead clinical pharmacist at the charity, said: "It's been around since the early 60s and sometimes it's used as a veterinary anaesthetic, so the short-term effects can include things like dry mouth, sleepiness, changes to heart rate and blood pressure and also your body temperature. Xylazine can dangerously lower your breathing and heart rate and that can lead ultimately to a coma or potentially even death.
"The risks associated with using xyalzine increase significantly when it's mixed with other drugs and what we're seeing is that it's being often cut with other drugs like opioids, benzodiazepines and more recently THC in things like vapes, so the person taking it may not know what they're actually taking it."
She added that there are some measures that could be introduced to tackle it and prevent further deaths: "Expanding the range of harm reduction and interventions available for people who use drugs and things like drug checking is really key. Healthcare providers can be more aware of the signs such as the skin conditions, chronic skin ulcers, and also pathologists and coroners can help by specifically requesting toxicology tests when someone has sadly passed away."
Researchers, led by academics from King's College London, say their study examined various toxicology, drug testing and drug seizure sources and found 35 cases of xylazine 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 toxicology labs, where the drug was found in 16 people - including 11 people who had died. Some 11 of these samples were from summer last year.
Senior author Dr Caroline Copeland, from King's College London, said: "We now know that xylazine has penetrated the UK's illicit drug market.
"This is cause for alarm as a much wider population of people who use drugs beyond heroin users will be exposed to its harms.
"We also know that most people who buy heroin will not intend to buy xylazine and this combination increases the risk of overdose. Xylazine was designated an 'emerging threat' to the United States and this public health threat is a growing concern for the UK.
"There are three simple measures the UK can introduce to prevent the epidemic of xylazine use that has emerged in the USA. Cheap xylazine test strips should be made available, healthcare providers need to be aware of the signs that chronic skin ulcers are due to xylazine use, and pathologists and coroners should specifically request toxicology testing for xylazine in relevant cases to understand the true prevalence of the drug."
A Government spokesperson said: "We are aware of the threat from xylazine and are determined to protect people from the threat posed by this drug and other illicit synthetic drugs.
"We will not hesitate to act to keep the public safe. Following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD), we intend to make xylazine a Class C drug meaning anyone supplying this substance will face up to 14 years in prison, a fine or both."