A new drug has hit St. Louis that some are referring to as the “zombie drug.”
Xylazine is a powerful, non-opioid tranquilizer often used in animals. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), there have been increasing incidents of the drug appearing in fentanyl powder and pills.
In St. Louis, the combination killed a 17-month-old after the infant got ahold of some while under the care of a babysitter at the end of March.
Andree Swanson of the DEA St. Louis says 23 percent of all fentanyl seizures here also contain xylazine.
“One of the issues with xylazine is, it's not a controlled substance like fentanyl or heroin, so we can’t even arrest someone who has xylazine,” Swanson said. “You can buy it online.”
Swanson said drug traffickers are adding the animal tranquilizer here in the states. It apparently prolongs the high of opioids, but also increases the risk of death. Plus, she said, it makes it harder to revive people with narcan.
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