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"Tranq" is street slang for xylazine, an animal tranquilizer now showing up in illegal drugs across America. This veterinary sedative was never meant for humans, but drug dealers are mixing it with fentanyl and heroin. The results are deadly. Florida is seeing more cases every month, and overdose deaths are climbing.
Xylazine is a sedative that vets use on animals during surgery. The FDA approved it for cats, dogs, horses, and cattle in 1972. It knocks animals out and blocks pain during medical procedures. Scientists tried testing xylazine on humans back in the 1960s. It caused dangerous drops in blood pressure and knocked people unconscious too deeply. They scrapped human trials immediately. Today, xylazine is only legal for animal use.
Vets commonly use xylazine to sedate horses before surgery. The nickname stuck, even though the drug works on many animals, not just horses. Street users picked up the term and it spread from there.
Tranq dope is xylazine mixed with opioids like fentanyl or heroin. The DEA found xylazine in 23% of fentanyl seizures in 2022. Most users don't know they're taking it. Drug dealers don't advertise what's in their products. Some people specifically look for tranq dope because it lasts longer than regular fentanyl. Others try to avoid it but can't tell what they're buying.
Money drives everything. Xylazine costs almost nothing. Chinese suppliers sell it for $6-20 per kilogram. Dealers can cut their expensive fentanyl with cheap xylazine and still charge the same prices. Xylazine also makes fentanyl last longer. A fentanyl high burns out in minutes, but xylazine keeps users sedated for hours. Dealers call this "giving fentanyl legs." Users get more bang for their buck, so they come back.
Street names include tranq dope (when mixed with opioids), zombie drug, and horse tranq. The zombie nickname comes from how users look when they're on it. They move slowly, barely respond to people talking to them, and seem disconnected from reality. Treatment professionals hate the zombie term because it dehumanizes people struggling with addiction. But the name spread because of how accurate it looks from the outside.
Xylazine hits fast and hard. Users become extremely drowsy and confused. Their breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure all drop to dangerous levels. The sedation can last 6-8 hours, much longer than most street drugs. The biggest problem? Narcan doesn't work on xylazine. If someone overdoses on tranq dope, Narcan might reverse the fentanyl part but the xylazine keeps them unconscious. This makes overdoses much more deadly.
Regular xylazine use creates intense physical addiction. Users develop tolerance quickly and need more to avoid withdrawal. Unlike opioid addiction, doctors don't have medications to treat xylazine withdrawal. This makes getting clean much harder.
Mixing xylazine with opioids multiplies the overdose danger. Both drugs slow down breathing and heart rate. Together, they can shut down vital functions completely. Emergency responders see more deaths because Narcan can't reverse the whole overdose.
Users often stand or sit completely still for hours, swaying slightly but not responding to their surroundings. They might have their eyes open but seem totally disconnected. Some call it being "stuck" or "frozen." This leaves them vulnerable to crime, weather, and injury.
Chronic tranq users develop horrible skin sores all over their bodies. These aren't just injection site wounds. The sores can appear on arms, legs, face, anywhere. They start small but grow into deep, rotting ulcers that won't heal.
Xylazine tightens blood vessels throughout the body. Less blood means less oxygen reaching the skin and muscles. Without enough oxygen, tissue starts dying. This happens whether someone injects, snorts, or smokes the drug. The blood vessel constriction lasts for hours, much longer than the high. Even small cuts or scrapes can't heal properly because there's not enough blood flow to repair the damage.
Tranq wounds start as dark spots or small sores. They grow quickly into deep, open ulcers with black, dead skin around the edges. The wounds smell bad and often get infected with dangerous bacteria. In severe cases, the ulcers expose bone and muscle. When infection spreads or the tissue dies completely, doctors sometimes have to amputate limbs to save the person's life. Hospitals in Philadelphia report increasing amputations from tranq wounds.
Ketamine and xylazine are completely different drugs. Ketamine is FDA-approved for human use. Doctors use it for anesthesia during surgery and to treat severe depression. Clinics give ketamine legally under medical supervision. Xylazine has never been approved for humans and only shows up in illegal street drugs. The two drugs work differently in the brain and have different effects and risks.
Both drugs get called "tranq" sometimes, which creates confusion. Both are used by veterinarians on animals. But that's where the similarities end. Street names often mislead people about what they're actually taking.
"Horse tranq" usually refers to xylazine, not ketamine. But the slang term doesn't tell you which drug you're dealing with. This confusion can be dangerous because the drugs have different effects and risks. People might think they understand a drug's effects based on street names, but those names often lie or oversimplify. Getting accurate information matters for safety and treatment.
Philadelphia got hit first and worst. In 2021, 91% of street drug samples contained xylazine. The city's emergency rooms filled up with people needing wound care. Overdose deaths spiked because Narcan stopped working effectively. Philadelphia's hospitals now have special wound care units just for tranq users. The healthcare costs are enormous, and the human suffering is worse.
Florida is seeing xylazine in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties. Law enforcement finds it mixed with fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine. The drug follows trafficking routes from northeastern states down to Florida. Treatment centers in West Palm Beach are starting to see patients with tranq wounds and complications. The pattern matches what happened when xylazine first spread from Puerto Rico to the Northeast.
Federal agencies call tranq dope "the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced." The DEA seized xylazine in 48 out of 50 states. The CDC published special guidelines for doctors treating tranq-related health problems. Both agencies warn that standard overdose response doesn't work when xylazine is involved. They're pushing for new treatment approaches and more research funding.
When someone overdoses on tranq dope, Narcan only reverses the opioid part. The xylazine keeps causing dangerous sedation and slowed breathing. Overdose victims need immediate emergency medical care even after getting Narcan. Family members should still give Narcan for any suspected overdose, but they need to call 911 immediately. The person isn't safe just because they got Narcan.
Tranq addiction comes with serious medical problems that regular addiction treatment programs can't handle. The skin wounds need specialized care from wound specialists and sometimes surgeons. Infections can turn deadly without proper treatment. Getting clean from tranq requires coordinated care between addiction doctors, wound care specialists, and other medical professionals. It's more complicated than treating most other addictions.
Our Partial Hospitalization Program gives intensive treatment while letting people go home at night. This works well for tranq users who need daily medical monitoring for wounds and other health problems. PHP includes 25-35 hours of treatment per week with individual therapy, group counseling, and medical care. Our clinicians have experience treating complex addictions involving multiple drugs.
The Intensive Outpatient Program offers flexible scheduling for people who can live at home during treatment. This level works for people stepping down from residential treatment or those with strong family support. We use proven therapies like CBT and EMDR, plus specialized relapse prevention for tranq addiction. Medical support continues for any ongoing health issues.
Tranq addiction needs long-term support because of the complex physical and mental dependence it creates. Our aftercare includes ongoing therapy, support groups, and medical monitoring to prevent relapse. We focus on family involvement and building community support networks. Practical life skills training helps people maintain their recovery long-term.
What is the tranq drug?
Tranq is xylazine, an animal sedative that's now mixed into street drugs like fentanyl and heroin. It was never approved for human use.
What are the effects of tranq?
Tranq causes extreme sedation lasting 6-8 hours, slowed breathing, and severe skin wounds. It increases overdose risk and doesn't respond to Narcan.
Why does tranq cause wounds?
Xylazine restricts blood flow throughout the body. Without enough blood, skin and muscle tissue dies, creating deep, non-healing ulcers.
What is tranq dope?
Tranq dope is xylazine mixed with opioids like fentanyl or heroin. It's particularly dangerous because Narcan can't reverse the full overdose.
Is ketamine a horse tranq?
No. Ketamine is FDA-approved for human medical use. Xylazine (tranq) is only approved for animals and appears illegally in street drugs.
If you or someone you love is using tranq, North Palm Beach Recovery Center has specialized programs for this dangerous addiction. Our medical team understands the complex health problems that come with xylazine use. Call us today at (561) 463-8867 to check your insurance and start treatment. We accept most insurance plans and offer payment options. Don't wait for the wounds and health problems to get worse.
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