Editorial: Panel’s deliberate pace doesn’t match xylazine’s OD threat
The Massachusetts Special Commission on Xylazine convened for preliminary meetings this week to address the alarming rise of xylazine, a potent veterinary sedative, in the state’s illicit drug supply. This select panel has been tasked with investigating the proliferation of xylazine, often found mixed with fentanyl, and to provide recommendations aimed at mitigating the public health and safety risks associated with this dangerous trend. Xylazine, colloquially known as “tranq” or “tranq dope,” is not approved for human use and poses significant health threats, including heightened overdose risks and severe skin infections. The White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy has recognized the mixing of xylazine with opioids like fentanyl as an emerging threat, underscoring the urgency of the commission’s work.
Data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health highlights the growing prevalence of xylazine in drug-related fatalities. In 2020, xylazine was detected in 9% of drug samples tested in Massachusetts, a figure that surged to 35% by 2024. Alarmingly, the presence of xylazine in opioid-related overdose deaths doubled from 11% in 2023 to 22% in 2024. This trend reflects a broader national crisis, where drug overdoses have become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, with over 80,000 fatalities recorded in 2024 alone. The commission’s mandate includes gathering testimony and conducting additional hearings to develop effective outreach and treatment strategies, as the landscape of illicit drugs continues to evolve with the introduction of new, addictive substances.
Despite some progress in reducing overdose deaths attributed primarily to fentanyl, the rise of xylazine complicates the situation, as it is resistant to conventional overdose-reversal medications like Narcan. The commission’s initial report deadline has been proposed to be extended to March 2026, emphasizing the need for thorough research and effective policy recommendations. As the state grapples with this growing crisis, there is a pressing need for timely action to address the challenges posed by xylazine and ensure that public health measures keep pace with the rapidly changing dynamics of the illicit drug market. The commission’s work is critical not only for Massachusetts but also as a potential model for other states facing similar issues.
The Massachusetts Special Commission on Xylazine held preliminary meetings Monday and Tuesday in efforts to study the increasing presence of the dangerous animal sedative in the state’s illicit drug supply.
The select panel’s mandate involves investigating the proliferation of xylazine and providing recommendations to “address the public health and safety concerns posed by the proliferation of xylazine as an additive to illicit drugs.”
The use of xylazine in the illicit drug supply — often combined with fentanyl — presents serious risks, including increased overdose potential and severe skin infections/ulcers.
Xylazine, also known as “tranq” or “tranq dope,” is a non-opioid sedative or tranquilizer, according to the CDC. The mixing of the drug and fentanyl was declared an emerging threat by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy in 2023.
The tranquilizer, used in veterinary medicine but not approved for use in humans, has been increasingly found in illegal drugs in the U.S. in recent years, alarmingly linked to overdose deaths, the CDC states. The drug, which can “slow down the brain and breathing, make the heart beat slower, and lower blood pressure in people, is especially dangerous when combined with opioids like fentanyl.”
In 2020, xylazine was found in 9% of drug samples in Massachusetts tested by the non-profit Street Check Community Drug Checking program.
By 2024, the number rose to 35% of the drug samples tested in Massachusetts. So far in 2025, the nonprofit has found the drug in 21% of samples.
In 2023, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health found xylazine present in just under 11% of opioid-related overdose deaths of state residents. In 2024, the number doubled to 22%, the data show.
The Massachusetts law originally called for the Special Commission on Xylazine to submit a report by June 30, but a proposal seeks to delay the date to March 2026.
The panel, which convened for its initial public meeting in June, is conducting additional hearings to gather testimony. A working group focusing on Outreach and Treatment is also active.
The illicit drug supply changes constantly, with new and addictive substances being mixed into street drugs, with xylazine a prime example.
Over the past two years, for instance, New England has seen a troubling trend in which dealers sell drugs mixed with a variety of substances. A counterfeit Xanax pill can be laced with cocaine, fentanyl, and xylazine, which has proven to be resistant to overdose-reversal medications.
And despite the recent progress, drug fatalities remain historically high. Nationwide, 80,391 people died of drug overdoses in 2024, and overdoses remain the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 to 44, according to the CDC.
In Massachusetts, the fatalities last year were still more than double what they were in 2012.
We’d urge the panel to quicken its pace, considering xylazine’s rising usage and immunity to overdose antidotes.
The precipitous decline in overdose deaths in 2024 occurred partly due to the increased availability of the OD preemptive presence of Narcan, when fentanyl, not xylazine, was the primary contributing factor.
Now, those drugs may share equal culpability.
Sentinel and Enterprise
Editorial cartoon by Al Goodwyn (Creators Syndicate)
