Montreal public health warning about street drugs mixed with animal tranquillizer – CBC

Xylazine is an animal tranquillizer showing up in street drugs in Montreal

Mar 10, 2023

Montreal public health officials are warning of a new and potentially deadly ingredient increasingly turning up in street drugs.

The drug, xylazine, is a sedative and pain reliever for animals. It is not intended for human consumption, but it is being cut with opioids to get users high for longer, according to Jean-Francois Mary, executive director of CACTUS safe injection site in Montreal.

Xylazine is hard to detect when mixed with other drugs. Montreal public health became aware of its increased use after studying drug-users’ urine last Fall.

Preliminary results showed xylazine was present in five per cent of the tests.

Mary warns there are serious risks associated with this drug, especially when combined with alcohol. He says xylazine can cause death, or skin necrosis necessitating amputations.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/xylazine-drug-montreal-increase-1.6774396