COULUMBUS – Franklin County Corner Anahi Ortiz is warning people of a new drug that is being used that caused three overdose deaths in Franklin County recently that is Narcan resistant.
Xylaine is a vet sedative that is being used to cut heroin and cocaine on the east coast and Puerto Rico also according to the Corner it has been used in Xylazine has been encountered in western Michigan in January, as well as the Upper Peninsula and suburban Detroit in February.
“We are seeing a new drug in Franklin County: xylazine, an animal anesthetic. There have been so far three overdose deaths with xylazine as one of the agents involved. The drug is not controlled and according to the head of OSU Veternary College it is carried by most vets in their bags,” said Dr. Anahi Ortiz.
Since Xylazine is not a opiod narcan will not work according to the Coroner and they are seeing it mixed with opiates. Ortiz says that Narcan should still be administered but it is important to call emergency services for any overdose.
Xylazine is an analogue of clonidine and an agonist at the α₂ class of adrenergic receptor. It is used for sedation, anesthesia, muscle relaxation, and analgesia in animals such as horses, cattle and other non-human mammals.
