DEA warns drug used to sedate large animals possibly hitting SF streets amid fentanyl crisis
Xylazine, known as Tranq, is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals. If mixed with opioids, officials say it's deadly
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A new drug is hitting the streets of San Francisco. In the fight against the fentanyl-fueled overdose crisis, the city is now bracing for another battle.
And now, there's an effort to stop a powerful tranquilizer called "Tranq" from becoming a deadly street drug.
Jacqui Berlinn holds a photo of her son Corey. He's battling addiction on the streets of the Tenderloin and she's worried about "Tranq."
"He said whatever was in the drugs that he took made it so he just absolutely could not move his body," said Berlinn, co-founder, Mothers Against Drug Addiction and Deaths.
VIDEO: There is a new deadly opioid showing up on San Francisco streets
Xylazine, also known as Tranq, is used by veterinarians to sedate large animals, and when mixed with already-powerful opioids... it's deadly.
"I believe Tranq is already on the street, unfortunately," she said.
It's been most pervasive in the northeast of the U.S., but the Drug Enforcement Administration warns Tranq is showing up more and more out west.
VIDEO: 'Injecting Hope' | Watch documentary on innovative program tackling drug overdose, fentanyl epidemic
Over a two-year period, the DEA's lab reports a more than 100% increase of xylazine in the illicit drug supply being snuck into deadly opioids like fentanyl.
"I just want to make sure that our city is set up to be monitoring for this and testing for it," said Supervisor Matt Dorsey.
MORE: Bay Area mother calls on Pres. Biden to say 'no' to safe consumption sites
Dorsey wrote a letter to the medical examiner in support of its efforts to start testing overdose victims for xylazine this year.
"The work they are doing given the crisis we're facing is life-saving and we have to fight for this," said Dorsey.
And because it's not an opioid, an overdose caused by xylazine cannot be reversed by Narcan - the nasal spray relied on so heavily in saving lives.
"Narcan is deployed thousands of times a year citywide among the interventions that we count from first responders," he said.
VIDEO: Are safe consumption sites part of the solution to SF's drug overdose crisis?
Making the tracking of Tranq that much more critical says the supervisor.
"God forbid if there's an addictive drug out there for which these interventions aren't going to work it's going to be terrifying," he said.
As for Jacqui, she's all for the medical examiner's move to test for Tranq. And if it's detected, she has a suggestion.
"Maybe put out public notices in some way to those on the streets so they know the supply is tainted with Tranq and protect themselves," Berlinn said.
If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
