Animal tranquilizer found in drugs tested after Belleville overdose emergency

Public health officials say testing has confirmedxylazine, a potent tranquilizer used in veterinary procedures, was found in a drug sampletaken around the time of last week's overdose emergency in Belleville, Ont.

In a brief update Thursday afternoon, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH) said testing carried out by Health Canada found the animal sedative, the depressantbenzodiazepine and an opioidin the most recentsamplecollected by police amid the spike in drug poisonings.

Officials said 23 people overdosed in Belleville between the afternoon of Feb. 6 andmorning of Feb. 8. Witnesses described multiple people collapsing at the same time.

At one point, police warned residents to avoid the downtown to give first responders space to work, describing the situation as an "overdose emergency."

HPEPH saidxylazineis a tranquilizerused by vets to control an animal's heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

"Combining xylazine with opioids or central nervous system depressants like benzodiazepines or alcohol can significantly depress these vital functions, increasing the risk of overdose and death,"read an email sent toCBC.

Harm reduction workers inOttawa recently sounded the alarm after finding the same substance in that city's drug supply, saying it put street drug usersat even greater risk of severe harm.

A potent tranquilizer is showing up in Ottawas drug supply. Heres how this clinic can test for it

8 months ago

Duration 2:25

Supervised injection sites in Ottawa like the Sandy Hill Community Health Centre are sounding the alarm after finding traces of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, in the local drug supply. Derrick St John, program manager of the centres Oasis program, demonstrates how drugs can be tested in just a few minutes.

Typically used tosedate large farm animals such ascattle and horses,xylazinecan have dangerous effects in humansincludingprolonged blackouts, according to Ottawa Public Health.

When mixed with fentanyl, it's known as "tranq" or "zombie dope" and cancause painful wounds that lead toamputation.

Health officials across Ontario, including in London, Thunder Bay and the Waterloo Region, have also reported the presence of xylazine.

HPEPH said Naloxone, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, does not have any effect on the tranquilizer, adding that"reinforces the need to call 911."