Deadly Drug Combination on the Rise in the State of Alabama

The practice of mixing a tranquilizer named xylazine with fentanyl has recently become an alarming issue in the state, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).

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Xylazine’s intended use is that of a tranquilizer used by veterinarians - it can be found in both liquid and powder forms. Since there are multiple ways for it to be used, the public has various ways of ingesting the drug into their system.

One of the many dangers of this new combination is that xylazine is not classified as an opioid, ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor expressed.

"This means naloxone (Narcan) will not reverse its effects, placing users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning,” Taylor said

Per CDC.gov, the rise of this new drug combination is all over the nation, but it's incredibly high in the South. ALEA says experts still suggests “Narcan” as the “go-to” remedy when someone shows signs of overdosing.

Continued use of the combo can make sores and wounds that will not heal over time. This condition could eventually lead to the amputation of a body part.

The Xylazine-Fentanyl mix is not only dangerous for those who take the drug, but it can also be dangerous for those who encounter someone who is a combo user.

ALEA officer Charles May had an incident dealing with a user of this drug and has since had his own health issues.

"Just recently, one of our own, ALEA Senior Trooper Charles May, came in contact with an individual who was exposed to fentanyl mixed with xylazine and has suffered health-related issues since the incident occurred," Secretary Taylor said.

"This is why we feel it is imperative to share this information with all of our partners and the public."

A GoFundMe page was set up but May's family to help offset the cost of his medical expenses.

More information on the deadly mix of fentanyl and xylazine can be found on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's website, DEA.gov.