Videos circulating on social media have captured scenes of young people in some American streets swaying in their walk, unresponsive to their surroundings, and moving aimlessly, raising many questions about the reason behind this behavior. Media reports have indicated that "it is related to a new drug spreading across the streets of many U.S. states, which slows down the heart rate of its users, making them a danger to themselves and others, potentially leading to death."
The so-called "zombie drug," also known as tranq, is a mixture of xylazine, a veterinary drug similar to cocaine used to calm and relieve pain in large animals like horses and cattle, alongside fentanyl, one of the most dangerous types of drugs. This substance, which is not approved for human use, has severe sedative effects similar to opiates, causing drowsiness, memory loss, slowed breathing, decreased heart rate, and low blood pressure.
Health officials in Los Angeles, USA, are sounding the alarm over the "concerning" spread of this "zombie drug" that can have gruesome effects on addicts, including flesh-eating consequences. Local street drug “tranq” — also known as the animal tranquilizer xylazine — has raised significant concern. The mixture can become lethal, transforming users into what resembles living dead "zombies." Overdose not only leads to skin ulcerations near injection sites but can also result in limb amputations if left untreated.
City officials in Los Angeles have raised a warning about the alarming rise of the "zombie drug," confirming that its use is spreading rapidly. The media spokesperson for the El Paso division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Carlos Briano, noted, "The DEA has seized illegal drugs containing xylazine in El Paso County," adding that in the southern region, which includes Texas, there has been an increase in deaths due to xylazine overdoses from 2020 to 2021.
The DEA has issued a public safety warning stating that xylazine is used as a cheap substitute for fentanyl, with its usage reported in 48 out of 50 states. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has mentioned that dozens of deaths recorded in New York are linked to "the zombie drug."
