‘Zombie’ drug that’s ravaged US blamed for first British death
A FLESH-eating ‘zombie’ drug that has swept through the US has been detected in Britain for the first time after a factory worker was discovered dead in his flat.
Karl Warburton, 43, died from the effects of xylazine combined with other drugs including fentanyl, another substance that has ravaged America and is said to be up to 50 times stronger than heroin.
A relative of Mr Warburton said yesterday the former Jaguar Land Rover worker had long battled addiction but had stayed clean for months before succumbing to hard drugs again in the period leading up to his death.
The single father-of-two died at his council flat in Smith’s Wood, near Birmingham, in May last year in what is the first instance of the animal tranquiliser xylazine being detected outside North America. Details of the presence of the substance have emerged only now in a report by toxicologists at the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths based at St George’s, University of London, which keeps records of fatalities involving illicit drugs.
Xylazine is known as ‘tranq dope’ and is cut with illicit substances by dealers, having the effect of lengthening the high. But many users are likely to be unaware that it may have been mixed into the drugs they take.
It is known as a zombie drug as it can cause open wounds to appear on users. Some also end up with bed sores from being stationary for long periods under its powerful sedative effects.
Mr Warburton’s sister Sadie, 36, said his three siblings did not know where he obtained the drug and whether he knew what he was buying.
‘It’s very worrying that this drug is now circulating in the country,’ she added. ‘I don’t think he would have touched it if he knew that it could possibly kill him.’
His inquest took place within three months of his death, which was due to the effects of opioid toxicity. Xylazine was listed as a contributing factor.
Caroline Copeland, of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, said Mr Warburton’s death could be the ‘tiniest tip of a growing iceberg’ because xylazine is not in the standard drug screens conducted.
She added he probably bought heroin and ‘didn’t know it was laced with fentanyl and xylazine’.