July 11, 2023
The federal government today released a national response plan to combat the rise of illicit fentanyl spiked with the animal tranquilizer xylazine.
The release of the plan today follows an earlier declaration of the sedative, also known as “Tranq,” as an emerging drug threat due to a significant rise in overdoses and severe injuries.
“This will be an all-hands-on-deck effort―but I am confident we can take action together and eradicate this emerging threat,” Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement.
Here’s what you need to know:
Health care providers should be on alert for signs and symptoms of patient exposure to fentanyl with xylazine and to provide effective care for overdose and wounds. They also should be mindful to start care for opioid use disorder treatment, the action plan notes.
The national response plan and fact sheet are available to review online.
Tags: Substance Use Disorder | Behavioral Health
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