Drug advisory issued in Penticton after animal tranquilizer found in sample

A drug checking advisory has been issued for Penticton after a lab result found Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, in a drug sample.

Penticton’s Pathways Addictions Resource Centre posted the advisory, issued by Interior Health to its community partners, on social media today, April 22, stating the information was localized to the City of Penticton only.

“We do not have information at this time to issue an alert about specific substances that may contain Xylazine. This is being sent for your awareness,” the advisory reads.

Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer that has sedating, muscle relaxing and pain killing properties, but is not approved for human use, although it is commonly used in veterinary medicine.

Use of the drug with opiods, benzos or both can result in synergistic effects that may increase risk of overdose.

Xylazine does not respond to naloxone but any opioids on board will respond, so naloxone is recommended along with breaths.

Xylazine is a depressant which in toxic amounts can cause severe drops in blood pressure, lowered heart rate and respiratory suppression. It can cause significant skin lesion or ulcers when injected.

It is not known what the substance that contained Xyazine was sold as or what it looked like in Penticton, but in other parts of the province xylazine has appeared in typical looking down samples sold as down and fentanyl.

More information on the drug can be found at this website.

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