Southwest Allegheny News

Legislators in Pennsylvania are preparing to introduce a series of bills aimed at addressing the growing "Tranq" drug crisis, which is having devastating effects across the state. The drug, known as Xylazine, is an animal tranquilizer that is being mixed with street narcotics like fentanyl.

Rep. Kristin Marcell (R-Bucks) highlighted the severity of the issue, stating, “It is creating one of the deadliest drug threats our country has ever faced.” She emphasized the impact on neighborhoods throughout Pennsylvania, particularly in Philadelphia.

The legislative package will be presented during Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week to emphasize the importance of awareness and education in tackling this crisis. The combination of Xylazine and fentanyl increases the risk of fatal overdoses and can cause severe wounds leading to necrosis.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has noted a rise in fentanyl mixed with Xylazine trafficking. In response, Marcell and four Republican colleagues are introducing five bills to reduce usage and raise public awareness about this epidemic.

Marcell's proposed legislation would mandate a public awareness campaign by the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. She pointed out that half of Pennsylvania's counties reported deaths linked to illicit Xylazine use in 2021, with 90% of opioid samples in Philadelphia containing it that year. “Yet too few people are aware of this drug’s existence,” she said.

Rep. Joe Hogan (R-Bucks) plans to propose legislation requiring the Department of Health to monitor new street drugs actively. This initiative would gather information from federal partners, local health departments, coroners, mortality review teams, and advisory committees interacting with those battling addiction.

Xylazine was only classified as a controlled substance by Pennsylvania's Secretary of Health in June 2023, years after its detection in heroin and fentanyl samples in Philadelphia. Hogan stressed the need for timely information gathering: “In the fight to help those with addictions, time lost results in lives lost.”

Rep. Craig Williams (R-Delaware/Chester) aims to establish a statewide opioid task force for disrupting drug trafficking networks. According to state data, overdose deaths reached 4,703 in 2022, with teen fatalities doubling over three years due to increased fentanyl use.

Williams emphasized creating a task force for intelligence sharing among law enforcement agencies: “By establishing a framework for the sharing of information...this legislation will greatly assist law enforcement agencies.”

Pennsylvania recently secured over $1 billion from opioid manufacturers and distributors for remediation efforts through a historic settlement. Rep. Martina White (R-Philadelphia) introduced legislation prohibiting these funds from supporting publicly funded heroin injection sites: “We cannot say we want to end drug use and at the same time fund facilities that help people continue their cycle.”

Rep. Andrew Kuzma (R-Allegheny/Washington) proposed improving transparency around Opioid Settlement Fund usage by requiring annual reports on fund allocation by counties and local governments.

Additionally included is Rep. Carl Metzgar’s (R-Somerset) proposal criminalizing illicit possession of Xylazine while exempting legal veterinary use without making it a Schedule III controlled substance.

Marcell also plans to introduce a resolution recognizing Sept. 18-24 as Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week in Pennsylvania.

For assistance with substance use issues, individuals can contact the Get Help Now Hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or visit Representative Kristin Marcell's office for more resources.