FDA Imposes Stricter Rules For Importation Of Xylazine

One of the scariest things about illegal drugs is that you can never be sure what you are buying on the street or on the Internet or what the forensics lab will find in the zip top bag of white powder that the police confiscated from a traffic stop.  A major reason that fentanyl causes more overdose deaths than any other drug is that most overdose victims do not know that the pills or powders they are consuming contain fentanyl, and they certainly do not know how much fentanyl is present.  More recently, a veterinary tranquilizer called xylazine has become an increasing presence in the drug supply, causing accidental overdoses in people who do not realize that xylazine is a component of the drug mixture they have bought.  In an effort to curb the trend of xylazine overdoses, the FDA has issued a new rule about the import of xylazine.  If you are being accused of possession or sale of a drug mixture that includes xylazine, contact a Florida drug offenses attorney.

Why Is Xylazine So Dangerous?

Xylazine is a central nervous system depressant commonly used in veterinary medicine.  IN varying doses, it can be used to tranquilize or anesthetize animals ranging in size from mice to cattle, horses, and deer.  It is rarely used medically in humans.

The reason that illicit use of xylazine is so dangerous is that, like opioids, it can cause respiratory depression, but unlike opioids, it cannot be reversed with naloxone.  Another danger associated with xylazine is that, when injected, it can cause severe skin infections, leading to its reputation as a “zombie drug.”  Xylazine users can also suffer severe withdrawal symptoms when they stop using the drug.

Legal Status of Xylazine

Xylazine is a Schedule I controlled substance, according to Florida law.  This means that possession of xylazine outside a veterinary setting is always illegal.  By contrast, cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine are Schedule II controlled substances, which means that, even though they are very dangerous, they have a limited range of legally accepted medical uses.

In February 2023, the Food and Drug Administration issued a statement in which it promised to monitor the import of xylazine more closely and to restrict more heavily the quantities of xylazine that may enter the United States at its ports and borders.  The goal is to ensure that veterinarians have enough xylazine to be able to continue their work uninterrupted but that no shipments of xylazine are unaccounted for.

What to Do If You Are Accused of Xylazine Possession

You should hire a criminal defense lawyer if you are accused of possession of xylazine.  The fact that you did not know that the drug in your possession was xylazine is not a legally valid defense.  Your lawyer can help you decide which defenses are most applicable in your case.

Contact FL Drug Defense Group About Drug Possession Cases

A Central Florida criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are facing criminal charges for illegal possession of xylazine.  Contact FL Drug Defense Group in Orlando, Florida to discuss your case.

Source:

thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3877336-fda-restricts-imports-of-tranq-drug-xylazine/