White House reveals strategy to reduce fatalities caused by lethal fentanyl-xylazine mix.

The Biden-Harris Administration Launches National Response Plan to Combat Deadly Fentanyl-Xylazine Combination

The Biden-Harris administration has taken a bold step forward in addressing the growing danger of fentanyl combined with the animal tranquilizer xylazine. Their national response plan aims to reduce overdose deaths caused by this lethal combination by 15%.

“If we thought fentanyl was dangerous, fentanyl combined with xylazine is even deadlier,”

said Rahul Gupta, the director of National Drug Control Policy for the White House, during a press conference on Thursday.

Xylazine, a legal substance used in veterinary medicine, poses a significant threat to human health when combined with fentanyl. It not only lowers blood pressure to dangerous levels but also causes soft tissue wounds and skin ulcers.

Furthermore, individuals who overdose on the fentanyl-xylazine combination, which is designed to prolong the high, are less responsive to the life-saving effects of naloxone, or Narcan.

“Since we announced the emerging drug threat earlier this year, we’ve been working tirelessly to create the best plan of attack to address this dangerous and deadly substance head-on,”

Gupta emphasized. “This will be an all-hands-on-deck effort, but I am confident we can take action together and eradicate this emerging threat.”

Gupta officially designated fentanyl-xylazine as an emerging threat in April, allowing for greater executive resources to combat this specific aspect of the opioid epidemic.

The Drug Enforcement Administration reported in January that xylazine, which has been present illicitly in the Northeast heroin market for years, is now spreading across the country. Shockingly, there were 3,089 xylazine-positive overdoses detected in 2021, representing a staggering 1,127% increase in the South and a 750% increase in the West compared to 2020 levels. Forensic laboratory investigations have also witnessed a nearly 100% increase in identifications of xylazine.

As part of Gupta’s comprehensive plan, increasing testing and data collection capacities is a critical first step to gain a national understanding of the threat and inform an effective response.

The administration is also collaborating with experts in the field to develop evidence-based treatment and prevention strategies. Additionally, they are directing more research resources towards understanding the social and behavioral effects of the rising prevalence of xylazine.

White House officials have confirmed that xylazine is entering the United States through established illicit trade routes from China and Puerto Rico. It is being combined with fentanyl both in Mexico and domestically.

Furthermore, the administration is exploring the possibility of placing xylazine on the federal scheduling of illicit drugs for human consumption. This action aims to address the combined public health, national security, and homeland security threats posed by this dangerous substance.

Gupta also announced that Vice President Kamala Harris will be convening a meeting next week with state attorneys general to discuss strategies for tackling the fentanyl crisis on a broader scale.

While designating fentanyl-xylazine as an emerging threat has paved the way for executive action, White House officials have emphasized that fully addressing this threat will require greater legislative action from Congress. This includes passing President Joe Biden’s full budget, which includes earmarked provisions for emerging threats.

“To the parents, loved ones, community leaders, and those affected by xylazine, I want you to know this: Help is on the way,”

Gupta assured.

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