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Researchers on the College of California San Diego College of Medication, in collaboration with the Prevencasa free clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, have confirmed the presence of xylazine within the illicit drug provide on the U.S.–Mexico border. Whereas xylazine stays much less widespread within the Western U.S., border cities function key trafficking hubs and will have larger charges of rising substances.
The findings, revealed within the Journal of Habit Medication, spotlight the pressing want for public well being intervention.
“Xylazine is a veterinary anesthetic that is not approved for human use and is increasingly detected alongside illicit fentanyl in parts of the United States and Canada,” mentioned senior writer Joseph R. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., a resident doctor within the Division of Psychiatry at UC San Diego College of Medication.
“Although xylazine has been most prevalent on the East Coast of the United States, this new evidence confirms its presence in Tijuana, on the U.S.-Mexico border, posing numerous health risks for people in this region.”
The research analyzed de-identified information of 23 customers from Prevencasa, analyzing urine and paraphernalia samples from people who reported utilizing illicit opioids throughout the previous 24 hours. Researchers used take a look at strips to display for xylazine, together with different medicine akin to fentanyl, opiates and methamphetamine. Paraphernalia samples had been additional analyzed utilizing mass spectrometry.
Key findings:
Xylazine was detected in 82.6% of participant urine samples utilizing Wisebatch take a look at strips and in 65.2% utilizing SAFElife take a look at strips.
Paraphernalia testing confirmed xylazine in 52.2% of samples through mass spectrometry, together with fentanyl (73.9%), fluorofentanyl (30.4%), tramadol (30.4%) and lidocaine (30.4%).
100% of individuals’ urine examined optimistic for fentanyl.
Xylazine is related to extreme well being dangers, together with profound sedation, extra advanced withdrawal syndromes, and a heightened threat of pores and skin infections and wounds. Given Tijuana’s strategic location as a transit level for illicit medicine coming into the U.S., researchers warning that xylazine prevalence may quickly rise in Southern California and past.
“This study underscores the importance of expanding drug-checking efforts in border regions,” Friedman added. “Our findings also support the use of xylazine test strips as a harm-reduction tool, providing people who use drugs and health care providers with critical information about exposure risks.”
A earlier research revealed within the Hurt Discount Journal demonstrated that people can use fentanyl take a look at strips to test their very own drug provide earlier than consumption.
Whereas additional analysis is required to standardize xylazine testing strategies, the outcomes spotlight the quickly evolving panorama of drug-checking applied sciences and the necessity for public well being companies to adapt accordingly.
Moreover, researchers famous a excessive prevalence of lidocaine in Tijuana’s illicit fentanyl provide, which can intrude with xylazine take a look at strip accuracy. Extra research are wanted to grasp why lidocaine is being added and the way it impacts drug-checking reliability.
Bigger research are required to additional assess xylazine’s unfold and refine testing strategies. Researchers advocate for elevated surveillance, harm-reduction methods, and scientific consciousness to mitigate the rising dangers posed by xylazine within the illicit drug provide.
Extra info:
Journal of Habit Medication (2025). DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001474
Offered by
College of California – San Diego
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Xylazine detected in US–Mexico border drug provide, research finds (2025, March 20)
retrieved 20 March 2025
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