Xylazine | April 4 2023
Date of Presentation: April 4, 2023
In this presentation, Blue Valentine, provides an overview of Xylazine, related withdrawal and overdose risk, and supportive care pearls. Furthermore, Blue discusses harm reduction strategies and preventative methods for safe use, and key tips for wound management.
Xylazine is an alpha-2 agonist used in veterinary medicine for sedation and analgesia. Although it has no approved indications in humans, Xylazine has become a life-threatening drug of misuse and is also found as an adulterant in heroin and illicit fentanyl. In humans, Xylazine overdose, alone and in combination with opioid, alcohol, and other substance intoxication, has caused major toxicity consisting of coma, reduced breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, and severe, skin ulcerations after repeated injection use. Xylazine poisoning is on the differential diagnosis for patients with suspected opioid overdose that does not respond to naloxone administration. Treatment consists of supportive care. There is no rapid diagnostic testing for xylazine poisoning or safe antidote.
Recording:
Presented by:
Blue Valentine, CHW | Jude Leahy, MPH
Blue Valentine, CHW, is a Harm Reduction Peer Specialist that currently works as part of a cross-program team of communicable disease, health navigation, and harm reduction staff at the Benton County Health Department, as part of the End HIV Oregon Project. Her work includes street and camp outreach, rapid testing, syringe services, client advocacy, naloxone distribution, and HIV and STI education. She coordinates a regional harm reduction group for the Linn, Benton, Lincoln, and Siletz region that has a focus on overdose prevention and naloxone access. Blue is also a member of the Measure 110 Accountability and Oversight Council. She started working in harm reduction in Los Angeles in 1992, and has extensive experience providing HIV/STI prevention and testing and syringe services to diverse communities, including people who use drugs, people experiencing homelessness, sex workers, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people living with HIV.
Jude Leahy, MPH, is the SOR Harm Reduction and Public Health Strategist for the Viral Hepatitis Program at the Oregon Health Authority.
Resources Provided:
- Xylazine (Presentation Slides)
- Xylazine: What Clinicians Need to Know (NYSDOH)
- Xylazine - Flyer Example 1
- Xylazine - Flyer Example 2
- Xylazine or "Tranq" (MCHD)
- Xylazine in the Drug Supply (National HR Coalition)
- Xylazine Overdose Cards
- ToxTidbits: Xylazine (Maryland Poison Control)
- Xylazine - Flyer Example 3
- Xylazine Fact Sheet (NEXT Distro)
Date added: April 4, 2023