HSE concerned lethal 'zombie drug' could be on its way to Ireland

In Britain, xylazine is being located in counterfeit prescription drugs like codeine, Xanax, Valium and vapes which contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. A national clinical lead with addiction services at the HSE has said: 'If it appears in the UK, we often seen it appear in Ireland.' File picture

The HSE has admitted it is concerned over a new opioid appearing on the Irish market which has killed thousands of people in the US.

Xylazine has been labelled an “emerging threat to the nation” by president Joe Biden’s administration in 2023.

The drug is largely used in veterinary medication to sedate and improve pain relief in large animals, with its effects similar to that of a tranquiliser — resulting in common nicknames for xylazine: 'zombie drug' and ‘tranq’.

The danger is that xylazine is being mixed in with other stronger drugs like heroin or fentanyl — which, in itself, caused a surge in deaths in both the US and Britain.

Research published in the Addiction journal in Britain drew on evidence from all toxicology labs in the nation. The drug was found in 16 people — 11 of whom died.

In nine of the 11 confirmed deaths, xylazine was found in combination with a strong opioid, but in the other two cases, it is believed that it could potentially have been consumed in an illicit sedative or vape.

National clinical lead with addiction services at the HSE, Eamon Keenan, explained how the mixture can cause issues which may end up being fatal.

He told RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne:

It can cause fatigue, sedation, blood pressure to drop, it can cause hypoglycaemia, it can be associated with skin ulcers from a reduction in oxygen to sites on your skin where you may have injected — you may end up being sedated.

In Britain, xylazine is being located in counterfeit prescription drugs like codeine, Xanax, Valium and vapes which contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis.

Mr Keenan said there is always a “potential” that the drug will appear in Ireland. He said: “If it appears in the UK, we often seen it appear in Ireland — we haven’t seen it to date, but that’s not to say it won’t appear here.

“We’re all particularly concerned about the opiod market in light of what’s going on in Afghanistan where heroin production has decreased.” 

This, he noted, had led to an increase in production of synthetic opioids. “If the synthetic opioids are mixed in with xylazine, it will be a significant concern.”

Before Christmas, a spate of overdoses in a short period in both Cork and Dublin saw the HSE intervene with a risk communication to the public.

Synthetic cannabinoids such as HHC have already been found in cannabis gummies — though HHC is legal in Ireland. Mr Keenan said it can be bought in vape shops, and is aimed mainly at “younger people” via flavourings.

He concluded: 

This emerging drug trend is changing — services are no longer dealing with the traditional, heroin-using population. It’s much broader, there is a range of different drugs emerging and they have more potent psychological effects.

“In some way, the dealers are trying to produce substances that aren’t covered by legislation to mimic traditional substances, cannabinoids etc and yet they aren’t illegal.

“They do have more potent effects. We need to be prepared for the changing market and have a lot of information ready for people.”