Quote:
Originally Posted by pdxtex
One thing I know for certain, if fentanyl wasn't in the picture it would be a completely different situation. Its like a science fiction movie, street drug turns ppl into zombies. When they cut it with tranquilizers then its lights out. Ive seen ppl roaming around straight out of 28 days later. Its probably worse on the west coast because of all the ports and Mexico due south of us. Ive heard rumors of cartel members operating on the Oregon coast too operating drug drops off of container ships and picking them up in Zodiacs like Miami in the 80s.
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"Tranq" is worst in the east. Recreational use of xylazine started in Puerto Rico, then jumped to Philadelphia, which is still the epicenter now. It's been filtering its way into the rest of the country via Philadelphia.
I work in addiction medicine these days, for a company that owns multiple clinics. At one of our other clinics we took ten patients who regularly test positive for fentanyl and also tested them for xylazine. Six of the ten came back with it. At another we tested another ten, and three out of ten came back with it. Being smack in the middle between two major cities, on a major interstate, means that everything they're doing, we're doing too.
The thing about xylazine is that it isn't federally regulated yet. It's a large-animal tranquilizer with legitimate veterinary uses and as such, you can still buy it by the pound. It's not under control at all yet.
The most noteworthy thing about xylazine is the way that it causes necrosis. Unlike necrosis or cellulitis that can set up with IV opioid use, the necrosis from xylazine can set up pretty much anywhere. I've seen a video of a woman shooting up into the huge open sores where her scalp was rotting off. There's no consensus yet, but the working theory at the moment is that xylazine necrosis can set up anywhere there's a problem with circulation. Whereas, necrosis or cellulitis from other IV use usually sets up at the injection site.
But yeah... In this area heroin is pretty much a thing of the past. You've got pain meds, fentanyl and fentanyl laced with xylazine, or just straight xylazine. Those, and meth. We've got a few people who abuse benzos, but for the most part the vast majority of substance users here prefer opioid pain meds, fentanyl, and meth.