Animal sedative 'Tranq' worsening overdose crisis as it spreads across the country | Nightline

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Xylazine, a horse tranquilizer, is being mixed into street drugs, creating a zombie-like effect and leading to a rise in overdose deaths in Philadelphia and beyond, prompting action from healthcare workers like Katie Mowry, Stephanie, and Diane Cardin.

Insights

  • Xylazine, a horse tranquilizer, is being mixed into street drugs in Philadelphia, creating a dangerous drug mixture known as the zombie drug, leading to a surge in unintentional overdose deaths.
  • Diane Cardin's Needle Exchange program in North Carolina is actively addressing the xylazine issue by testing drugs for the substance and offering support services, emphasizing the urgent need to combat the widespread presence and harmful effects of this drug.

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Recent questions

  • What is the zombie drug?

    Xylazine

  • Where is the mobile clinic located?

    Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood

  • What is the impact of xylazine on users?

    Gruesome wounds, severe withdrawals, addiction cycle

  • Who runs the Needle Exchange program?

    Diane Cardin

  • What states are affected by the zombie drug?

    California, Alabama, Twin Cities

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Summary

00:00

Zombie drug epidemic grips America's streets.

  • Katie Mowry and Stephanie are nurses who operate a mobile clinic in Philadelphia's Kensington neighborhood, known for its opioid crisis.
  • Xylazine, a horse tranquilizer, is being mixed into street drugs like heroin, cocaine, and Fentanyl in the area, causing users to appear zombie-like.
  • The drug mixture, dubbed the zombie drug, is spreading across California, Alabama, and the Twin Cities, alarming law enforcement.
  • Xylazine has led to a record number of unintentional overdose deaths in Philadelphia, with a significant increase from the previous year.
  • The drug's impact includes gruesome wounds, severe withdrawals, and a cycle of addiction that's difficult to break, affecting individuals nationwide.
  • Diane Cardin runs a Needle Exchange program in North Carolina, testing drugs for xylazine and providing support services to those affected, highlighting the drug's widespread presence and dangers.
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