How xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, is making overdoses even riskier
CTV
The latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the country lost 105,752 lives to drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending October 2021, and while most of those overdoses involved the illicit synthetic opioid fentanyl, experts say that a veterinary tranquilizer is also leading to deaths.
Among the most concerning changes in the illicit drug market has been the appearance of xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer also commonly known as "tranq" or "tranq dope," said Naburan Dasgupta, an epidemiologist and senior scientist at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
"When you look at each individual death record, when you look at the actual files and the actual chemical analysis, you see other peaks in there ... which are definitely not fentanyl and are these other contaminants that are in the drug supply," explained Dasgupta, who has been studying drug use and infectious diseases for over two decades.
According to the CDC, about half of drug overdose deaths involved multiple drugs in 2019, the most recent year for which data is available.
But detecting what drugs were involved in an overdose isn't always easy. One study of drug samples collected in Vermont and Kentucky found multiple active components in at least 89 per cent of drugs sold as opioids or cocaine.
California firefighters battled wind-whipped wildfires that tore across the Los Angeles area, destroying homes, clogging roadways as tens of thousands fled and straining resources as the fires burned uncontained early Wednesday.
Lake Naivasha, northwest of Nairobi, Kenya is becoming increasingly unnavigable. Water hyacinth, the world's most widespread invasive species, is blanketing the lake, choking its fish and leaving people stranded.
Drinking coffee has repeatedly been linked with better heart health and prolonged life. But the benefits of coffee consumption could depend on when you drink it, new research has found.
On one of the most challenging days of Hannah White’s life, she found peace in the generosity and determination of several Delta Air Lines employees who went to great lengths to ensure that she was able to spend another precious 24 hours with her mom.
A weekend winter storm that brought much of Canada under severe weather alerts continues to bring chilly conditions to Canadians across the country.
A bluefin tuna about the size of a motorcycle has been sold for US$1.3 million (207 million yen) at Japan’s most prestigious fish market, setting the second highest price on record during its new year auction.
Indonesia's new government started an ambitious project on Monday to fight malnutrition by feeding nearly 90 million children and pregnant women that is expected to cost US$28 billion through 2029, although critics question whether the program is affordable.
The U.K. will introduce its ETA system on Jan. 8. ETA, which stands for Electronic Travel Authorisation, is a new digital registration scheme for travelers who don’t need a visa to enter the U.K.
From snow, to high winds, to extreme cold, much of Canada is under a severe weather alert this weekend. Here's what to expect in your region.
At the heart of the case is whether the law violates the First Amendment with TikTok and its creator allies arguing that it does.
This Canadian couple has been to 195 countries. Here's what they learned on their eight-year journey
Masha and Robert Glanville, a Canadian couple, sold everything they owned to travel the world full-time. With over 195 countries visited, they focus on mindful, eco-friendly travel and giving back. Here’s what they had to say about their global journey.