What is xylazine (“tranq”)? What families need to know now

Clinically reviewed by Mehrnaz Ravanbakhsh, LMFT · November 1, 2026 · Written by the New Beginnings Detox & Recovery team

Xylazine, often called “tranq,” is an animal sedative that has been mixed into the illegal fentanyl supply. It is not approved for use in people. It can slow breathing and the heart, and naloxone does not reverse it. But naloxone should still be given in any overdose, because xylazine is usually mixed with fentanyl, and naloxone can reverse the fentanyl.¹²

In this blog, you’ll learn what xylazine and the newer sedative medetomidine are, how common they are in Los Angeles, why they’re dangerous, and five ways to stay safer. If you’re reading this for someone you love, the safety steps are written for you.

What is xylazine?

Xylazine is a sedative and pain reliever that the FDA approves only for animals.² On the street it’s called “tranq,” and it is most often mixed into illegal fentanyl.⁴

Many people may not know it’s in their drugs at all, which is part of what makes it dangerous.¹ In 2022, the DEA found xylazine in about 23% of the fentanyl powder and 7% of the fentanyl pills it seized.⁴

It became a national concern quickly. In April 2023, the White House drug policy office declared fentanyl mixed with xylazine an “emerging threat” to the United States, the first time it ever used that label.⁵

Xylazine is still not a controlled substance under federal law.³ A bill to add it to the federal list passed the U.S. House in September 2026 and is waiting on the Senate.¹⁶

Medetomidine is a newer sedative showing up in fentanyl. It’s approved for dogs, not people, and it is more potent and longer-acting than xylazine. Some people call it “rhino tranq.”⁹

How xylazine affects the brain and body

Tranq slows the body down. The CDC says it can slow the brain and breathing, make the heart beat slower and lower blood pressure.¹

It works differently from fentanyl. Tranq is not an opioid. Like the blood pressure medicine clonidine, it acts on alpha-2 receptors in the brainstem.² That’s why naloxone, an opioid reversal medicine, can’t undo it.

When fentanyl and tranq are taken together, both slow breathing. Naloxone can reverse the fentanyl part, but the sedation from tranq may continue after naloxone is given.¹

Based on CDC guidance on xylazine and the CDC’s 2026 alert on medetomidine. With medetomidine, breathing may come back with naloxone, but deep sleepiness may not.¹⁹

How common is xylazine in Los Angeles?

Tranq is here, but far less common than on the East Coast. In a CDC study of fentanyl deaths from 2019 to 2022, only 1.1% of the deaths with xylazine were in the West, compared with 49.9% in the Northeast. The highest shares were in Maryland (27.7%), Connecticut (26.4%) and Pennsylvania (23.3%).⁶

Across 21 states and cities, the share of fentanyl deaths with xylazine detected rose 276%, from 2.9% in January 2019 to 10.9% in June 2022.⁶ California’s health department said in 2023 that it was present in the state, but not to the extent seen in the Northeast.¹³

Local testing tells a mixed story. Different groups tested different drugs, so the numbers below aren’t directly comparable.⁷⁸

Where it shows up

How often xylazine was found, out of 100

Three different counts, from three different kinds of testing. Each grid shows about how many out of 100.

1. U.S. fentanyl deaths, June 2022

   10.9% of fentanyl overdose deaths in 21 states and cities had xylazine.

2. LA County police samples, 2023

   13 of 320 fentanyl samples had xylazine, about 4%.

3. LA drug checking, 2023–2025

   63 of 333 fentanyl samples had xylazine, most of it in tiny amounts.

Most of the tranq found in LA drug checking was in tiny amounts. In 78% of those samples, it made up less than 1% of the drug by weight.⁸

Why xylazine is so risky

Tranq adds new dangers to fentanyl. It can cause deep sleepiness, bad wounds and a withdrawal we still don’t fully understand.¹³

Serious skin wounds

Tranq has been linked to open sores that can appear far from where a drug was injected.² NIDA notes that some clinicians see these wounds even in people who smoke or snort it.³

The CDC says wounds can get infected and worsen quickly. Treated early, they can be managed with basic wound care. Left untreated, they can lead to amputation or become life threatening.¹

Overdoses that are hard to spot

Routine drug screens don’t pick up tranq, and it leaves the body quickly. The FDA warns that these overdoses may be underdiagnosed for these reasons. That’s one more reason to tell a medical team everything you may have taken.²

Withdrawal that’s still being studied

Using tranq again and again can lead to dependence. The FDA says cutting back may then cause withdrawal, like agitation or severe anxiety.²

NIDA says we still need more research on this withdrawal. And no medicine is FDA-approved to treat it yet.³¹³

Medetomidine: severe withdrawal and fast spread

Medetomidine was first found in the illegal drug supply in 2021. It began appearing with fentanyl in Chicago, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh from mid-2023 to mid-2024, and by July 2024 it had been found in at least 18 states and Washington, D.C.⁹

Stopping medetomidine can cause severe withdrawal. Some people need emergency or intensive care. The CDC says symptoms may start within hours and peak 18 to 36 hours later.⁹

In one Philadelphia report, 150 of 165 patients with suspected medetomidine withdrawal needed intensive care. That’s 91%.¹⁰ It is also spreading fast in police drug seizures.⁹

Fast spread

Medetomidine reports from police drug seizures, U.S.

Reports to the national forensic lab system, which tracks drugs seized by law enforcement.

1. 2023 · 247
2. 2024 · 2,616
3. 2025 · 8,233

From 247 reports to 8,233 in two years

So far, it’s rare in Los Angeles. Since May 2025, LA County drug checking has found it in six samples. The county says that doesn’t mean it’s widespread.¹¹ In California, preliminary 2025 data show five overdose deaths involving medetomidine, all with fentanyl.¹²

Myths vs facts about xylazine

Here are five myths about tranq, and the facts:

What helps: 5 ways to stay safer

The CDC points out that illegal drugs don’t come with an ingredients list. You can still be ready, and these five steps come from CDC guidance.¹

1. Carry naloxone. Keep it close, tell others where it is, and call 911 after you give it.⁹
2. Learn rescue breaths. First responders report rescue breaths are especially helpful with tranq, because it slows breathing.¹
3. Know what test strips can and can’t do. Strips exist for tranq and medetomidine, but they can miss them.⁹
4. Get wounds checked early. Wounds treated early can be managed with basic wound care.¹
5. Get treatment that knows what’s in today’s supply. The CDC tells clinicians to offer treatment, including medicines for opioid use disorder, and to consider higher levels of care for withdrawal when medetomidine is involved.⁹

How to talk with someone you love about tranq

Start with care, not alarm. SAMHSA’s advice for these talks is simple: listen without judgment and speak with kindness.¹⁵

Share what you’ve learned as information, not an accusation. Ask questions, and let them answer. Here are a few ways to say it.

Words that help

What to say about tranq

1. Bringing it up

   Try“I read that tranq is in some fentanyl now. I’d feel better if we kept Narcan at home.”

   Instead of“You’re going to kill yourself with that stuff.”

2. Noticing a wound

   Try“That sore looks painful. Can I take you to get it looked at?”

   Instead of“Look what you’re doing to yourself.”

3. They aren’t ready

   Try“Okay. I’m here whenever you want to talk.”

   Instead of“Then I’m done trying.”

If you notice a wound, bring it up gently. A sore that isn’t healing is a reason to see a doctor, not a reason for shame. Wounds treated early can be managed with basic wound care.¹

Don’t expect one talk to change everything. SAMHSA notes it may take many conversations before someone gets help, so keep the door open.¹⁵

What to tell a detox team about tranq

Tell the medical team every substance you may have taken, including fentanyl that might contain tranq or medetomidine. That helps them plan for withdrawal and watch for problems early.

Ask about wound care, too. California’s health department has warned that people ready for treatment might be turned away from residential programs that can’t care for tranq wounds. It’s fair to ask any program how it handles wounds before you go.¹³

At New Beginnings, staff are awake in the house around the clock and check on you every 30 minutes in detox. Our nurse tracks your vital signs, and our medical director, Dr. Bret Bellard, decides when medicine can help.

In our home, depending on the wound, our team can help keep it wrapped and clean while it heals. If a wound needs more urgent help than we can give in our home, we take the person to urgent care. If someone needs hospital care first, like for severe withdrawal, we help them get there.

The bottom line

If you or someone you love uses fentanyl, the safest next step is a medical assessment. A detox team can plan for what may be in today’s drug supply. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you call.

Frequently asked questions about xylazine

What does tranq do to a person?

Tranq slows the body down. It can slow the brain and breathing, make the heart beat slower and lower blood pressure, and it can cause serious skin wounds.¹

Does Narcan work on xylazine?

No, naloxone (Narcan) doesn’t reverse it. But you should still give it, because tranq is usually mixed with fentanyl, and naloxone can reverse the fentanyl. Then call 911.¹

Where do xylazine wounds show up?

They can appear anywhere on the body, not only where someone injects. Some clinicians report wounds in people who smoke or snort it.³

Is xylazine an opioid?

No. The CDC calls it a non-opioid sedative, or tranquilizer. So naloxone, which works on opioids, doesn’t undo it.¹

Does xylazine show up on a drug test?

Usually not. The FDA says routine drug screens don’t find xylazine. It also leaves the body fast. Its half-life is 23 to 50 minutes.²

Is xylazine common in Los Angeles?

It’s present but less common than in the Northeast. In 2023 police samples, LA County found xylazine in 13 of 320 fentanyl samples, about 4%.⁷

Is there a medicine for xylazine withdrawal?

No. No medicine is FDA-approved for it yet. Doctors give supportive care and help manage the withdrawal.¹³

Can you test drugs for xylazine?

Yes, test strips exist for tranq and medetomidine. They can miss them, though, so a negative strip doesn’t mean the drugs are safe.⁹

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What You Should Know About Xylazine. CDC, 2024.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Warns About the Risk of Xylazine Exposure in Humans. FDA, 2022.
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. Xylazine. NIDA, 2026.
• Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine. DEA, 2023.
• White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Fentanyl Combined with Xylazine Designated an Emerging Threat to the United States. ONDCP, 2023.
• Kariisa M, et al. Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl–Involved Overdose Deaths with Detected Xylazine, United States, January 2019–June 2022. MMWR, CDC, 2023.
• Los Angeles County. Xylazine Found in Limited Quantities of Illicit Drugs in LA County. County of Los Angeles, 2023.
• Molina CA, Friedman JR, et al. Assessing the Real-World Performance of Xylazine Test Strips for Community-Based Drug Checking in Los Angeles. Harm Reduction Journal, 2026.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Medetomidine in the U.S. Illegal Fentanyl Supply Increasing Risk for Overdose and Severe Withdrawal Syndrome. Health Alert Network, CDC, 2026.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Suspected Medetomidine Withdrawal Syndrome Among Fentanyl-Exposed Patients, Philadelphia, September 2024–January 2025. MMWR, CDC, 2025.
• Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Health Advisory: Medetomidine in Illicit Drugs. LA County DPH, 2026.
• California Department of Public Health. Emerging Issue Brief: Medetomidine. CDPH, 2026.
• California Department of Public Health. AFL 23-35: Xylazine. CDPH, 2023.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What to Do If You Think Someone Is Overdosing. CDC, 2024.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. How to Talk to Someone About Help. SAMHSA, 2023.
• U.S. Congress. H.R.1266, Combating Illicit Xylazine Act: All Actions. Congress.gov, 2026.