96: Who put Xylazine (Tranq) in my Drugs & Why is that a Problem?

Marshall McLuhan famously said "The medium is the message." That's where we begin this week.You have probably seen the headlines in recent weeks, "Philadelphia drug supply polluted with Veterinary Tranquilizer." As our self-created "opioid epidemic" continues, we can expect similar drugs to pop up, boogie men for the government and the press to blame for a problem which is designed into the system. Xylazine is a sedative drug which is an analogue (synthesized version) of Clonidine. It can be purchased without a prescription in most US states and is now making its way into the drug supply of many big cities. The first time I heard of Xylazine was in 2012 in this article from the Journal of Urban Health. Back then it was reported to be a huge problem across Puerto Rico, leading to abscessed skin infections and terrible scarring or even death. Now its showing up across the US.  A paper published in April 2022 in the Journal of Drug & Alcohol Dependence showed rates of Xylazine in streets drugs is on the rapid rise.Always test your drugs. The Dr. Junkie Show does not offer medical advice. Consult your doctor; I'm not them. Support the show