Xylazine: What is it?

February 15,2013

It is said that thousands of people in Puerto Rico battle to maintain a drug addiction every day, with some of the most dangerous substances. Recently, attention was drawn to the drug Xylazine...

The island of Puerto Rico has quickly become a pit stop for drug traffickers from South America and the Caribbean. The affiliation with the United States allows for high quantities of drugs to come in at Puerto Rico's many ports, and essentially make its way onto the mainland. While many are most fearful of the ˜big name' hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, it has become quite apparent that an even newer drug is carving out deeper holes in the community of Puerto Rico, than any other.

It is said that thousands of people in Puerto Rico battle to maintain a drug addiction every day, with some of the most dangerous substances. Recently, attention was drawn to the drug Xylazine. It is cheaper than most other drugs and produces effects more powerful than heroin; this making the drug ever more popular. Originally, Xylazine was manufactured for the use of tranquilizing horses for dental work or castration. The dose given to horses makes them uncoordinated; they hang their heads low and have trouble walking. Since the drug's introduction in 2000, people have progressively figured out that miniscule doses of Xylazine can induce a severe state of intoxication for nearly six hours.

In humans, the powerful drug causes the mind to fade in and out of consciousness. Coordination and balance are severely affected with Xylazine and people have been called ˜walking zombies' as they sway and bend towards the ground even when standing up. Once the dangerous trip is over many are left to walk the streets in a hope to scrounge up enough money to take the next hit. The circle of abusing and then fighting to get more drugs is so severe that one man interviewed explained that while he is not under the influence, he œpanhandles bypassing cars for spare change to pay for his next hit. This can happen day in and day out, and this man has even been hit by cars due to losing his balance and falling in front of them.

Because of the intense effect of going in and out of consciousness, many Xylazine users shoot the drug intravenously paired with cocaine in order to stay awake. This mixture is immensely dangerous to the heart, brain and other organs of the body. Alone Xylazine cripples brain function and control of the body, together with cocaine users are at an extremely high risk of death. As of right now, Xylazine is available on the black market in Puerto Rico most noticeably. It has now become a common sight to see some citizens stumbling around the city as ˜walking zombies' under the effect of the drug.

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Many of our licensed counselors, who have also gone through the treatment process, are still in recovery and are willing to share their first-hand experience in order to allow others to follow in their footsteps. In addition, they are able to offer valuable insight into what to expect as well as the do's and the don'ts of addiction recovery. We treat clients from all over the world, caring for them with the dignity and respect they deserve. Our prescription drug addiction treatment program provides each individual with an opportunity to lead a new and better life by changing their emotional, physical and mental attitudes.

For information on our treatment programs and therapies visit us at:

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A Center for Addiction Recovery

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MARK KILLAR

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