State legalizes xylazine testing strips
Narcan cannot reverse veterinary sedative OD
In a move that mirrors fentanyl testing strip distribution two years ago, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill into law Tuesday that would decriminalize the use of xylazine testing strips.
Xylazine, better known as “tranq,” has been sweeping through other parts of the country and, in barely two years, was responsible for more than 5% of all overdose deaths in Wisconsin. Xylazine is often found as part of a drug cocktail that includes fentanyl and its purpose is to prolong the euphoria associated with opioids.
But unlike with opioids, neither Narcan nor naloxone can reverse the effects of a xylazine overdose, “making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said Anne Milgram, administrator of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, in a public safety alert.
Although it’s not considered a controlled substance at the state or federal level, the “Combating Illicit Xylazine Act” in Congress would add xylazine to this tier, and bring with it criminal penalties, if enacted. Ahead of that action, the Wisconsin law pushed to legalize the use of xylazine testing strips, which test drugs for the presence of xylazine.
Evers joined bill author Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, local officials and community members in front of a La Crosse fire station to sign Senate Bill 875, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 217, into law.
“I think it was appropriate we signed the bill in front of the La Crosse fire station because we had firefighters, EMS medical personnel, and law enforcement there,” Billings told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. “Those are the people who have to really deal with substance abuse and addiction every day in the work they do.”
What is xylazine or ‘tranq’?
Xylazine, often mixed with fentanyl and other illicit drugs, has been linked with hundreds of deaths throughout the state. Its deadliness, in part, comes from the fact that neither Narcan nor naloxone can reverse its effects. That’s because xylazine isn’t an opiate — it’s a non-opiate sedative authorized for veterinary use, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Xylazine’s short- and long-term health impacts on humans aren’t known, because it hasn’t been tested for human consumption by the FDA. Since February 2023, the FDA has been taking actions to restrict the unlawful entry of xylazine into the country to prevent the drug from entering the U.S. market for illicit purposes.
Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning, according to the DEA’s public safety alert.
Billings said xylazine testing strips will be made available through service providers and they’ll be available through DHS.
It isn’t quite clear when xylazine testing strips will start to disseminate across the state. DHS is currently preparing its annual spending plan for state fiscal year 2025, which it will submit to the Joint Committee on Finance for the Committee’s approval.
Individuals seeking substance use treatment and recovery services are encouraged to use the Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline, which is free and available 24/7. They can also dial 21-1, which directs to the helpline, or text their ZIP code to 898211.
“By making these strips available... we can help save more lives and help get folks on a successful path to recovery.”
Do testing strips prevent overdoses?
During public hearings for legalizing fentanyl testing strips, testimonies poured in about how important strips were as a tool in harm reduction efforts, a point Billings underscored Tuesday.
When people are testing for the presence of fentanyl, for example, they’re more likely to use less if the strip tests positive. And they’re more likely to use in the company of somebody else. They’re also more likely to spread awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and the importance of testing before drug consumption.
Evers, in his press release about the effectiveness of testing strips, said that, in the absence of xylazine reversal agents, xylazine testing strips are the only line of defense in preventing tranq overdoses.
“There is currently no xylazine reversal agent safe for human use, which means prevention is key — by making these strips available, in addition to providing certain civil and criminal liability exemptions for people distributing or administering these products, we can help save more lives and help get folks on a successful path to recovery,” Evers said.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers