A FLESH-EATING animal tranquiliser has “penetrated” the UK’s drug market, a new study warns.
Xylazine — which has been labelled an “emerging threat” in the US — has now been found in counterfeit painkillers and vapes this side of the pond, British researchers found.
The “zombie” drug was found in the blood of 11 Brits who had died in 2023, they said.
Dr Caroline Copeland, of King’s College London, said: “This is cause for alarm as a much wider population of people who use drugs beyond heroin users will be exposed to its harms.
“We also know that most people who buy heroin will not intend to buy xylazine and this combination increases the risk of overdose.
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“Xylazine was designated an ‘emerging threat’ to the United States and this public health threat is a growing concern for the UK.”
Xylazine is a horse tranquiliser that can cause skin and tissue necrosis and is easy to overdose on.
Britain recorded its first xylazine-related death in 2022, when Karl Warburton, 43, from Solihull, West Midlands, was found to have taken the drug.
The Sun last year revealed vapes contaminated with the drug had been found in Britain.
The study, published in Addiction, looked at data from toxicology labs across Britain to see what levels
They found the drug was present in 16 people’s blood, 11 of which died last summer.
It was found in counterfeit codeine and diazepam — also known as Valium — pills, THC vapes and in stimulant drugs such as cocaine.
Dr Copeland said: “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 and healthcare providers need to be aware of the signs that chronic skin ulcers are due to xylazine use.
“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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Dr Adam Holland, of the University of Bristol, added: “The emergence of xylazine in the UK drug market is extremely concerning.
“As levels of adulteration increase and drug-related deaths mount it becomes even more clear that our punitive drug laws are not reducing harm.
“We need to expand the range of harm reduction interventions available for people who use drugs, including drug checking and overdose prevention centres, to give them the opportunities they need to stay safe.”