KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The drug Xylazine — known as “tranq” on the street- ranks among the top five deadliest drugs in East Tennessee. The drug is an animal sedative that has often been used by veterinarians, but now it is often mixed with other substances.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the drug has been found in some illicit drug supplies, with people who consume the drug often doing so without knowing. Overdose reversal medications do not reverse the effects of Tranq, with experts recommending that people give opioid reversal medications instead.
NIDA said not only is overdose a risk, but the drug also brings skin wounds such as open sores and abscesses with repeated use…