Drug cartels at the border with the United States are engaging in a dangerous practice of mixing fentanyl with xylazine, a veterinary anesthetic, in order to enhance the effects of psychoactive substances, according to a warning from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Clara Fleiz Benítez, coordinator of the Opioids working group of the Globality Studies Seminar at the UNAM Faculty of Medicine, pointed out that this trend poses a serious threat to public health and has been identified as part of a growing phenomenon in drug consumption in areas like Tijuana and Mexicali.
The introduction of fentanyl in these areas has been described as a change that has notably and worryingly transformed the lives of drug consumers. According to a study, the ease of acquiring fentanyl due to its high availability and low cost has resulted in an increase in the number of users and overdose cases.
Fleiz Benítez explained that those who used to consume heroin via injection have been forced to adapt to the new characteristics of fentanyl, leading to a rise in HIV and Hepatitis C rates. This transition has generated critical dependency, as the effects of withdrawal syndrome can be devastating.
The use of fentanyl, which can be administered by injection, smoking, or ingestion, has been reported in nearly 90% of doses mixed with crystal. Between June 2023 and January 2024, multiple cases have been recorded in various states, highlighting the urgency of implementing effective public policies to address this crisis.
Fleiz Benítez proposed several measures to tackle this serious issue, such as the use of naloxone to prevent overdose deaths and promoting medication-assisted treatments like methadone. The researcher warned that just two milligrams can be enough to cause death.
The mix with xylazine, an unapproved muscle relaxant for human use, can result in increased sedation and a sense of euphoria, but it also significantly raises the risks associated with its consumption. According to Fleiz Benítez, this practice of adulterating fentanyl is a relatively new phenomenon in Mexico, despite having already been reported in the United States and other countries; it not only enhances the psychoactive effects but also reduces the frequency with which users need to inject themselves.
UNAM presented alarming data regarding medical urgencies related to fentanyl intoxications and emphasized the importance of involving vulnerable populations in government policies and promoting research on new psychoactive substances.
