Corrections_Today_Spring_2025_Vol.87_No.1

COMMITTEES

– Establish Data: Track overdose events, distinguishing cases in volving known xylazine where feasible to understand the distribution and impact within the system. – Public Health Awareness: Conduct public awareness campaigns for the incarcer ated population, using mass communication devices such as tablets to warn of xylazine risks. mixtures in forty-eight of fifty states, finding 23% of seized fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills adulterated with xylazine. — United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 2023; U.S. Department of Justice & Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022 – Naloxone Availability: Ensure naloxone availability for emer gency use. Despite naloxone not working on xylazine, it is critical to have it available to reverse any involved opioid. – Training: Educate your health care workforce to ensure personnel can recognize and respond effectively to common elements of xylazine expo sure - respiratory depression, extreme sedation, and necrotic skin wounds. The DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl

healthcare professionals about seri ous risks associated with xylazine exposure in humans. The DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in forty-eight of fifty states, finding 23% of seized fentanyl powder and 7% of fen tanyl pills adulterated with xylazine (United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 2023; U.S. Depart ment of Justice & Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022). Between 2020 and 2021 the laboratory oper ated by the DEA has discovered xylazine present in the drug sup ply across the United States, in all census regions (Figure 1). Xylazine response strategies for correctional agencies Management of the threat posed by xylazine in the drug supply requires a multi-pronged approach given the complexity of the illicit sub stances involved. Selected strategies should mitigate public health risks,

enhance interdiction and surveil lance, and ensure effective clinical interventions for patients (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024b; U.S. Department of Justice & Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022; White House, Office of Nation al Drug Control Policy, 2023b). – Interagency Collaboration: It is critical to the success of corrections agencies to develop partnerships with local, county, and state agencies that can assist with resources, manage ment, and interdiction, related to the general drug supply. – Surveillance: Correctional agencies should network to state or local law enforcement agencies to obtain real-time intelligence regarding xylazine presence in the drug supply. – Testing: Equip agency staff with the ability to test the seized drug supply if forensic testing capacity is available in your jurisdiction.

(U) Figure 1: DEA Forensic Laboratory Identifications of Xylazine by Region

PERCENT INCREASE

REGION

2020

2021

Northeast

346

556

61%

South

198

580

193%

Midwest

110

118

7%

West

77

163

112%

Source: DEA. (U.S. Department of Justice & Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022)

Corrections Today | Spring 2025

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