Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Zombie drug 'tranq' sending US down another dark path

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Jun 2023 11:35
4 Min Read

Tranq, an emerging street drug with devastating effects, is sending the United States down a path darker than its predecessors due to various factors.

  • x
  • A protester gathers containers that look like OxyContin bottles at an anti-opioid demonstration in front of the US Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington on April 5, 2019 (AP)
    A protester gathers containers that look like OxyContin bottles at an anti-opioid demonstration in front of the US Department of Health and Human Services headquarters in Washington on April 5, 2019 (AP)

Heroin was once at the helm of the drug empire, holding the reigns of the opioid epidemic in the United States before it was replaced by fentanyl, a synthetic drug that is much easier to produce, a lot cheaper, and much more potent. However, fentanyl seems to be falling out of favor as the market is dominated by tranq, a flesh-eating drug that turns its users into what could best be described as mindless zombies roaming the streets unaware of their surroundings.

One addict who identified as Martin told AFP how he saw fentanyl replacing heroin as New York's drug of choice, but today, he is trying to avoid the drug known as tranq, an animal tranquilizer whose effects are devastating the US population.

Read next: Combating fentanyl needs global strategy similar to COVID's: US envoy

Xylazine, whose street name is short for a tranquilizer, is said to cause holes in the user's body, as was evident with Martin, whose wounds on his legs and arms indicate that he may have used the detrimental substance.

The drug, which has been approved for veterinary use by the US Food and Drug Administration, infiltrated the country's diverse drug market as producers upped its usage to augment fentanyl.

Tranq-related overdose deaths have been on the increase in recent years, with the White House designating it as an emerging threat in April.

Its potency is surreal and it is highly accessible, with almost anyone being able to get it off the internet. Coupled with fentanyl nearly all the time, the opioid is around 50 times more potent than heroin.

The potency comes at a cost, however, as users would need to calibrate the amount they would abuse, but instead, they use as much as they would heroin, leading to their death. The emergence of the drug raise the number of fatal overdoses in the United States to nearly 110,000 in 2022, a record-high for the country hit by opioid epidemic after opioid epidemic.

The drug is notorious for how little it needs to induce an overdose.

Related News

Netanyahu blamed for sabotaging Gaza captives deal, say their families

China’s mineral export ban disrupts US defense supply chain

  • On the left, a lethal dose of heroin; on the right, a lethal dose of fentanyl (New Hampshire State Police Forensic Lab)
    On the left, a lethal dose of heroin; on the right, a lethal dose of fentanyl (New Hampshire State Police Forensic Lab)

A lethal dose of heroin, i.e., enough of the substance to kill an average-sized adult male, is around 30 milligrams, while for fentanyl it is about 3 milligrams, a stark difference.

Meanwhile, xylazine-related overdoses rose from 260 in 2018 to 3,480 in 2021, showing a dangerous trend for the drug

New York City authorities say traces of xylazine were found in 19 percent of fatal opioid overdoses, around 419 deaths, in 2021.

Health experts suspect that xylazine causes abscesses and skin ulcers by tightening blood vessels, and in some cases, it could lead to amputation.

The number of fatal overdoses in New York soared more than 80 percent between 2019 and 2021 to 2,668 deaths, largely due to fentanyl as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, which isolated users and hampered relief efforts. African-American and Hispanic communities were the most impacted.

Between 2019 and 2021, the number of fatal overdoses in New York increased by more than 80%, reaching 2,668 deaths. Fentanyl and the Covid-19 pandemic, which isolated users and delayed relief operations, were largely to blame. The most affected communities were those that were Hispanic and African-American.

Both the city and drug-prevention associations are focusing on naloxone, a nasal spray antidote that reverses an opioid overdose. However, one major aspect of tranq is that it is not an opioid, so naloxone does not reverse its effects.

Leonardo Dominguez Gomez, a field researcher with New York's health department, said it is still possible to avoid xylazine because it hasn't proliferated through the market.

However, there are countless videos online showing how the populations of New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, are being hit hard by the emerging zombie epidemic.

@urbanvisuals2.0 #thebronx #bronx #bronxnyc #nyc #fypシ ♬ original sound - Urban Visuals 2.0

Social media users were prompted by the sights seen in the streets of the United States to criticize the government for prioritizing military spending instead of combating the domestic crises the country is imbued in.

@urbanvisuals2.0 #kensingtonphilly #kensingtonphiladelphia #skidrow #kensington #philadelphia ♬ original sound - Urban Visuals 2.0
  • United States
  • New York
  • Drug Epidemic
  • Heroin
  • Fentanyl
  • Philadelphia
  • Traq

Most Read

An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025
An explosion seen during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

If Iran is attacked again, geography of response may change: IRGC spox

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli soldiers drive on their armored personnel carrier back from inside the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Full occupation of Gaza on the table despite military's opposition

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to the audience at a conference in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Sunday, July 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu blamed for sabotaging Gaza captives deal, say their families

A mine operated by Serra Verde Mining in Minacu, Goias state, Brazil, Monday, July 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

China’s mineral export ban disrupts US defense supply chain

ap
Politics

Aid allowed by 'Israel' covers only 14% of Gaza's needs: Media Office

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS