A powerful animal tranquiliser known as “tranq dope” has “penetrated” the UK’s illegal drug market, experts have warned.
It has become known as the "zombie drug" because wounds can spread over a person's limbs, causing their skin to rot. It has been linked to thousands of deaths in the US.The new study, published in the journal Addiction, warns about side effects including airway compromise and skin ulcers, which can lead to limb amputation.
Senior author Dr Caroline Copeland, from King’s College London, said: “We now know that xylazine has penetrated the UK’s illicit drug market. “There are three simple measures the UK can introduce to prevent the epidemic of xylazine use that has emerged in the USA. Cheap xylazine test strips should be made available, healthcare providers need to be aware of the signs that chronic skin ulcers are due to xylazine use, and pathologists and coroners should specifically request toxicology testing for xylazine in relevant cases to understand the true prevalence of the drug.
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