Over four months back, the Beverly Police Department received some concerning news they had anticipated but dreaded nonetheless.
Brandeis University’s Street Check program confirmed that two samples of suspected fentanyl submitted by the city tested positive for xylazine, also known as “tranq.” This non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer, notorious for its extreme sedating effects and resistance to naloxone, had already been detected in neighboring Gloucester and Lynn. Its presence in Western Massachusetts was no secret.
Philadelphia stands as the epicenter of this issue in the U.S., where xylazine is prevalent in over 90% of illicit opioids and linked to about a third of overdose deaths in 2022, as per the city’s reports.
This discovery marks the latest chapter in the ongoing drug crisis in the Northeast. Data from Brandeis’ Street Check program reveals that xylazine was present in 42% of Massachusetts lab-tested drug samples in the first quarter of this year, marking the highest percentage recorded in the state thus far.
Although its prevalence is on the rise, xylazine remains relatively uncommon in Beverly, a coastal city in Essex County.
Nevertheless, the Beverly Police have been proactively preparing for the potential escalation of this issue on the North Shore, viewing it through the lens of harm reduction. Other police departments across the Commonwealth have also joined in this effort.
Over the past few years, this central nervous system depressant has increasingly been mixed into the state’s fentanyl supply, resulting in what’s known as “tranq dope.” Many individuals consume it unknowingly, inadvertently deepening their addiction.
Known for its longer and sustained highs, xylazine can render individuals heavily sedated or even unconscious for extended periods, with their heart and breathing rates dropping dangerously low. These blackout periods leave them vulnerable to various risks, including assault, theft, and rape.
