
'Toxic drug supply is killing our relatives': Animal tranquillizer found in overdose death reports in Winnipeg
CTV
An animal tranquillizer is making its way into Winnipeg’s street drug supply. Xylazine - also known as zombie drug - has been found in toxicology reports of three people who have died of an overdose.
An animal tranquillizer is making its way into Winnipeg’s street drug supply.
Xylazine - also known as zombie drug - has been found in toxicology reports of three people who have died of an overdose.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Manitoba says three people who died of an overdose, two in August and one in October, had xylazine in their toxicology report.
Davey Cole, the coordinator of Sunshine House’s Mobile Overdose Prevention Site, estimates most street drugs in Winnipeg are cut with other substances.
“The toxic drug supply is killing our relatives and our kin,” they said.
Cole says contacts in other parts of the country had told them about xylazine getting in drug supplies, such as opioids.
Cole says they are "trying to get as much information about it as possible within our community, word of mouth, and also from Vancouver to really learn how to tackle this. I'm assuming we're going to be seeing more of it."