In 2021, xylazine was found in 91% of opioid samples in Philadelphia.
Xylazine, a non-opioid sedative used in veterinary medicine, has recently gained attention for its role in increasing overdoses nationwide. However, it is not new to the illicit drug market.
Xylazine is not approved for use in humans and there has not been enough research to fully understand its impact on the human body. What we do know, however, is that xylazine is not an opioid, therefore, naloxone will not reverse a xylazine overdose. But, since xylazine is typically co-ingested with opioids like fentanyl, naloxone should be administered in the event of an overdose to reverse the effects of the opioid in the system.
Information provided by Overdose Lifeline
