Flesh-rotting US ‘zombie drug’ linked to 11 UK deaths

THE flesh-eating “zombie drug” xylazine has been linked to 11 deaths in Britain, researchers warned.

The drug, also known as “tranq” or “tranq dope” is a powerful animal tranquiliser which, when used by humans, can cause a dangerously slow heart rate and large open skin wounds. It is causing major problems in the United States where addicts are often seen in a catatonic state on the streets and overdoses have risen by 35 per cent since 2021.

King’s College London found xylazine in samples from 16 people in toxicology laboratories in the UK, 11 of whom had died. Researchers warn the drug is being mixed with other substances and have called on coroners to test for the substance to understand the true prevalence of the drug in Britain.

Dr Caroline Copeland, from King’s College London, said: “We now know that xylazine has penetrated the UK. This is cause for alarm as a much wider population of people who use drugs beyond heroin users will be exposed.

“We also know that most people who buy heroin will not intend to buy xylazine and this combination increases the risk of overdose.”

Xylazine is known as the “zombie drug” because wounds can spread over a person’s arms and legs, causing their skin to rot. It has been linked to thousands of deaths in the US.

The first fatality outside North America was Karl Warburton, 43, from Solihull, West Midlands, who died in May 2022. In most cases, xylazine is mixed with strong opioids such as heroin or fentanyl but the study also detected it on its own and mixed with cocaine, counterfeit codeine, diazepam (Valium) tablets and cannabis vapes.

Dr Adam Holland of the University of Bristol, the research co-author, said: “We must expand the interventions available for people who use drugs, including drug checking and overdose prevention centres, to give them the opportunities they need to stay safe.”

The research was published in the journal Addiction.