Animal Tranquilizer adds to the opioid crisis in the Lowcountry

CHARLESTON S.C. (WCBD)–Xylazine became more common in the Lowcountry during the 2020 pandemic, and now experts are finding xylazine mixed with other drugs like fentanyl.

“Xylazine has been up in coming. We have been hearing about it for a couple of years. It’s an animal tranquilizer, I’ll be honest; in June 2020, we saw a huge increase in it in the area,” said Nanci Shipman, the executive director for Wake up Carolina. 

It is most used as a pain reliever and sedative for horses. But xylazine, also known as the zombie drug, can cause respiratory depression, slowed heart rate, and rotting flesh in humans. 

“It’s causing physical problems, and it is causing skin irritation and distortions that must be medically treated and seen by a doctor. Xylazine is a substance where I can’t stress enough that it is a frightening drug and it is not something made for humans,” said Shipman.

Organizations that focus on combatting the opioid epidemic, like Wake Up Carolina, are working with law local law enforcement to provide overdose response and harm reduction services. The strategy seems to work in Mount Pleasant; police said they’ve seen a 40% drop in overdoses from 2022 to 2023.

“Carolina has taken more of a proactive approach of education and partnering together to get ahead of it and hopefully to prevent those overdoses from happening and occurring at all, and I think the more education we get out there, the better we going to be,” said Captain Christopher Rosier of Mt. Pleasant police department.

If you or someone you know needs help with addiction, please visit Home – WakeUp Carolina.