Xylazine (aka “Tranq”) is on the rise as a contaminant in substances. In April, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration designates Fentanyl combined with Xylazine as an Emerging Threat to the United States. Xylazine is a non-opioid tranquilizer approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for veterinary use but not human use. It causes wounds, similar to burns, on the body and is not contagious, but requires immediate medical care. You can learn more about local detection through MADDS here.

The Lowell Police Department issued a PSA on April 11, 2023. Please consider looking at the Facebook post and Twitter post, and sharing with your networks.