'Zombie drug' an 'emerging threat' for Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — A tranquilizer known as the “ zombie drug ” is increasingly being used in the Hoosier State in tandem with fentanyl, the deadly opioid driving the American overdose crisis.

According to drug laboratory Millennium Health , 21% of patients in Indiana whose urine samples contained fentanyl also tested positive for xylazine in the national study. The prevalence ranked Indiana as 10 ^th in the nation for xylazine-positive samples.

“The threat associated with the combination of fentanyl and xylazine is incredibly pernicious and often leads to tragic consequences,” Scott Walton, CEO of the laboratory, said.

Xylazine mixed with other drugs

Xylazine mixed with illicit fentanyl was declared an emerging threat by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy on April 12, 2023. The non-opioid sedative is mixed with drugs, such as fentanyl or cocaine, to enhance its effects – though users may not know xylazine is in their supply.

In Marion County, xylazine was detected in 32 overdose cases by the coroner’s office last year. The number represents a 100% increase in the region from the previous year, according to a report .

“Because xylazine exposure remains a significant challenge in the East and is a growing concern in the West, clinicians across the U.S. need to be prepared to recognize and address the consequences of xylazine use among people who use fentanyl,” said Chief Clinical Officer Angela Huskey.

Indiana ranked behind Missouri, where 22% of samples tested positive, and Kentucky, where 25% of samples contained xylazine. Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio had the highest rates.

The analysis included more than 50,000 urine samples that tested positive for fentanyl between April 12, 2023, and April 11, 2024.

The tranquilizer is deadly because it can slow breathing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and drop a person’s blood pressure to dangerously low levels – a similar effect in opioid use. The sedative, however, is not an opioid, and will not react to opioid overdose reversals, like naloxone, or Narcan, the brand.

Researchers said the mixture can also cause long-lasting sedation, which increases the risk for overdose. Though xylazine alone will not respond to Narcan, the CDC still recommends using naloxone on anyone suspected of overdosing, and calling 911 for additional medical treatment.

Drug overdose crisis lingers in Indianapolis

Drug overdose remains a leading cause of death in Marion County, though the coroner’s office recorded a decline in the cases last year for the first time since 2021. The surge is almost exclusively fueled by fentanyl.

Indianapolis health officials have created alerts to learn when an uptick in overdoses has been detected. Learn how to sign up for the public health alerts here .

Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 'Zombie drug' an 'emerging threat' for Indiana