WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, bipartisan legislation to crack down on and schedule the highly dangerous sedative causing fatal overdoses nationwide. Xylazine, also known as “tranq” or tranquilizer is an easily accessible veterinary tranquilizer being used as a low-cost cutting agent, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently reported 23% of fentanyl powder contained it in 2022. Xylazine causes depressed breathing and heart rate, unconsciousness, necrosis, and even death, and naloxone does not reverse its effects because it is not an opioid.
Despite alarming reports about the rise of xylazine, which has been called a "zombie drug,” federal, state, and local law enforcement do not have the tools necessary to effectively track it or crack down on traffickers using it to increase their profits.
“Illicit fentanyl and xylazine pose an unprecedented threat to Idaho families. I am deeply concerned about China’s role in this crisis as a top source country of both deadly drugs. I am proud to support the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act and give federal, state, and local law enforcement better tools to confront the growing threat of illicit narcotic trafficking,” said Risch.
“Drug traffickers are going to great lengths to pad their profits with dangerous drugs like tranq, and we need to empower law enforcement to crack down on its spread in our communities,” said Cortez Masto. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure the DEA and local law enforcement have the tools they need to get xylazine off our streets while protecting its important use as a veterinary tranquilizer.”
“Drug overdoses remain unacceptably high as cartels and traffickers continue to flood our nation with deadly and ever-changing poison. We cannot successfully prevent these tragedies with one hand tied behind our back. We must keep pace with the evolving tactics of the drug trade. This bill recognizes the dangers posed by the increasing abuse of animal tranquilizers by drug traffickers, and provides new tools to combat this deadly trend. It also ensures that folks like veterinarians, ranchers and cattlemen can continue to access these drugs for bona fide animal treatment,” said Grassley.
“Xylazine is hurting New Hampshire communities and contributing to the alarming rate of overdose deaths in our state,” said Hassan. “Our bipartisan bill would take important steps to combat the abuse of xylazine by giving law enforcement more authority to crack down on the illicit distribution of this drug, including by putting stiffer penalties on criminals who are spreading this drug to our communities. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle are seeing the impact of this deadly drug in their states, and we will continue working together to move this critical bill forward.”
The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would address this gap in federal law by:
- Classifying its illicit use under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act;
- Enabling the DEA to track its manufacturing to ensure it is not diverted to the illicit market;
- Requiring a report on prevalence, risks, and recommendations to best regulate illicit use of xylazine;
- Ensuring all salts and isomers of xylazine are covered when restricting its illicit use; and
- Declaring xylazine an emerging drug threat.
Xylazine is essential in veterinary medicine with large animals, and while this legislation will help law enforcement crack down on its illicit use, it will also protect access for veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers by protecting the veterinary medicine use of xylazine. This legislation has been endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Nevada Cattlemen Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National Narcotic Officers’ Associations’ Coalition, United States Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California, North American Meat Institute, Animal Health Institute, and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.
The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is also cosponsored by Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
“The AVMA fully supports this congressional effort to combat illicit xylazine,” said Dr. Lori Teller, American Veterinary Medical Association. “The proposed legislation will equip law enforcement with additional tools to stop xylazine trafficking. We urge Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act quickly as it strikes the right balance of protecting our communities while preserving veterinary access to this critically important animal drug.”
“Xylazine, a common pharmaceutical drug used in animals, has begun contributing to the opioid crisis that plagues our nation’s communities,” said Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations. “A drug that is meant for sedation and anesthesia in horses and cows has followed the trend of fentanyl and is being reported as an additive to illicit drugs. This drug has serious and deadly consequences and there is currently no approved drug to reverse its effects on humans. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is calling for xylazine to be classified as a Schedule III drug and invoke penalties on those who choose to illicitly use and distribute the drug. We stand with Senators Cortez Masto, Grassley, Hassan, Risch, Shaheen, and Capito and applaud their efforts to save countless lives.”
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