LOS ANGELES—Los Angeles County health officials issued a public alert March 8, warning of increased overdose risks associated with the animal sedative xylazine, which has been detected in illicit drugs in areas including San Francisco and San Diego.
LA County reports that the presence of xylazine, commonly known as tranq, in these California cities indicates “that xylazine is now likely present within the drug supply in Los Angeles,” according to its Department of Public Health.
Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer that is added to opioids such as heroin or fentanyl or pressed into counterfeit versions of pills such as Percocet or Vicodin, or sedatives such as Xanax to increase their effects….