PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Gov. Josh Shapiro is taking action against a horse tranquilizer that has become a common additive in illegal opioids. The governor announced Tuesday that his administration will add xylazine to Pennsylvania's list of controlled substances in an attempt to stem its flow to places like Kensington, the epicenter of Philadelphia’s opioid crisis.
Xylazine, commonly known on the streets as "tranq," is a powerful sedative intended for veterinary use on cows, horses, sheep and other animals. It is not for human use.
“This drug is a serious threat,” the Shapiro said Tuesday, speaking in Kensington. He said drugs like fentanyl and heroin are increasingly being cut with xylazine to create a longer high.
“The drug slows down your breathing and your heart rate, and the combination of xylazine and opioids can stop your heart and lungs entirely. Dealers have started to do this because fentanyl with xylazine extends the high, but it makes these already dangerous drugs even more deadly and more harmful.”
Shapiro has ordered the state Health Department to temporarily add xylazine to the list of "schedule III" narcotics under Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act. The change is expected to take effect on Saturday.
“By scheduling it, we are giving greater tools to law enforcement and others to properly regulate, control and contain these drugs, make arrests and hopefully prosecutions,” he said. Until now, law enforcement could not pursue criminal charges for improper use of the drug.
Veterinarians will still be able to use xylazine to sedate animals, but they will be subject to tighter regulations for handling, tracking and storing it.
In 2017, xylazine contributed to 90 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania, according to the governor’s office. By 2021, it contributed to 575 overdose deaths across 30 counties — a 600% increase. Last year, the number of deaths rose to more than 620.
Injecting drug mixtures containing xylazine also can cause severe wounds, including necrosis — the rotting of human tissue — that may eventually require amputation.
“A lot of times when people take it, they don’t realize that it is mixed in with the fentanyl that they are purchasing. There is no easy testing like there are fentanyl test strips for xylazine,” Shapiro said.
In 2021, 90% of street opioids that were sampled contained xylazine, Philadelphia officials said.
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