Christopher J. Marier

As xylazine surges, some lawmakers want jail time for dealers and people who use the drug • Stateline

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Christopher Marier
in

Legislators in a handful of states are offering bills to address the rise in the misuse of xylazine, a cheap animal sedative not intended for human consumption.

Xylazine, or “tranq,” can induce blackouts and cause lesions that sometimes result in severe infections or amputations, and it can even lead to death. The opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone does not work on xylazine, which drug dealers often find through the dark web and other illicit channels, rather than getting it from veterinary offices. Although xylazine isn’t classified by the federal government as a controlled substance, it also isn’t approved for human use.

Several states — including Indiana, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia and Wisconsin — are considering bills. The legislation ranges from classifying xylazine as a controlled substance to stiffening criminal penalties for possession and distribution, as well as legalizing testing strips so people who intend to take drugs can make sure they aren’t tainted by xylazine.

Other states — Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia — have already added xylazine to their lists of controlled substances, which adds tighter controls to the storage and movement of the drug for veterinary use.

Full story: As xylazine surges, some lawmakers want jail time for dealers and people who use the drug • Stateline

Comments

4 responses to “As xylazine surges, some lawmakers want jail time for dealers and people who use the drug • Stateline”

  1. Kason Hall

    With how we have viewed substances throughout the history of America, as well as how strict many of our legislatures are particularly on the distribution of certain illicit drugs, I believe xylazine should be no different. Any drug being distributed that could have outcomes such as infections, amputations, and even death should certainly be given strict laws. I fear that if we do not tighten up laws on drugs like xylazine, it could open a door to many other substances being allowed through the law, which in my opinion would not be a good outcome. This drug can also be dangerous as it is often included with fentanyl, which has become an epidemic in this country. If we do not place restrictions on drugs like xylazine, how does it make sense to have restrictions on drugs like marijuana?

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    1. Alex Rodriguez

      I agree the use of illicit drugs that actually cause harm and spread certain infections similar to the hiv/aids outbreak with the use of injection drugs should be given strict laws that punish the individual for the distribution of these substances in order to get them out of the hands of others who could and would be affected in a harmful way by the drugs. Individuals who are affected by these drugs should go through the drug court system to see them go through rehab and be watched and assisted with rehabilitation and should not be criminally charged for it unless they distributed the substance. While this method I just mentioned may be good on paper the actual implimentation may not. According to a post by standford university https://addictionpolicy.stanford.edu/drug-courts-alternative-incarceration#:~:text=Fewer%20than%2025%25%20of%20offenders,a%20review%20of%20154%20evaluations%20.
      they say, “Fewer than 25% of offenders so referred under California’s Proposition 36 showed up at treatment and completed it. Recidivism drops, on average, by 38%-50% among adult drug court participants, according to a review of 154 evaluations” so while the drug courts may not show much help with people that don’t show up there is some evidence based on statistics that the recidivism dropped 38%-50% for adults that participated which may also show that it is somewhat effective.

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    2. Rebeca Cruz-Magallon

      I agree hard laws should be enforced when dealing with hard drugs that cause harsh symptoms and death. Dealing drugs should always be punished because they cause harm to those that ingest it essentially encouraging the use of these harmful substances. Those who are in a vulnerable state of mind when taking these drugs should be provided with the right resources to get help and sober up. Laws must be enforced and put into place before the breakout of the drug takes over and changes the lives of many individuals. Having restrictions on certain drugs is useless if the laws do not apply to other drugs that can be deemed as more harmful.

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  2. Stephanie Troyan

    The misuse of xylazine, an animal sedative, in the illegal drug trade is discussed in the article, with a focus on the United States. A number of states’ legislators are putting out laws to deal with this problem because of the drug’s dangerous side effects, which can include death, severe lesions, and blackouts. How has the process of criminalization of other drugs led to the misuse of this drug? Some states have already added xylazine to their lists of restricted substances, while others are thinking about doing so or toughening up the penalty for distribution and possession.Public health professionals and proponents of harm reduction advise against criminalizing xylazine since this would increase the stigma and fear surrounding the medication and lead to user isolation and discouragement from seeking assistance. They make the case for a more comprehensive strategy that emphasizes increasing access to drugs, use treatment services and mobile drug-checking equipment to address the underlying issues contributing to drug misuse. The article highlights different states’ approaches to tackling the xylazine crisis and presents perspectives from legislators, public health experts, and harm reduction advocates on the potential effectiveness and consequences of these strategies.

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