Caraveo’s bill unanimously passes
U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo this past week passed her first piece of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives with unanimous support from the voting lawmakers.
The bill would require additional research into emerging illicit drugs including xylazine, a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer that’s been linked to an increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide. Caraveo, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, co-led the effort with Rep. Mike Collins, a Republican from Georgia, who also serves on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee alongside Caraveo. Sens. Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, and Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, introduced the bill in the Senate.
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports xylazine, also known as “tranq,” was first noted as an adulterant in illicit drugs in the early 2000s in Puerto Rico. About a decade later, the drug was found being used on its own on the island.
Now, the drug is becoming more prevalent in the U.S. as it spreads from the white-powder heroin markets in the Northeast, where it has been found for several years, according to the DEA. This follows a similar path to the spread of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is about 50 times more potent than heroin and has become a significant factor in drug overdose deaths.
Xylazine, a depressant that acts on the central nervous system, can slow breathing and cause respiratory depression. Unlike opioidcaused respiratory depression, naloxone cannot reverse respiratory depression caused by xylazine — meaning additional lifesaving measures may be required in scenarios where responders aren’t aware xylazine intoxication is a factor.
Limited testing for xylazine makes it difficult to assess how widespread its use and involvement in overdose deaths are, according to the DEA, but forensic laboratory identifications in the West increased from 77 to 163 from 2020 to 2021. The number of confirmed overdose deaths involving xylazine in the West increased from four to 34.
The Weld County Coroner’s Office has been learning about the increase of xylazine within the past few months and has started expanding routine testing to include xylazine, Chief Deputy Coroner Joey Weiner said in an email. Since testing for it, the coroner’s office has not found any cases resulting in death.
Caraveo’s bill, the Testing, Rapid Analysis and Narcotic Quality Research Act, passed the House on May 11 by a vote of 4250. The bill, which was received in the Senate on Monday, directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to focus its research on illicit drugs containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids and other substances of concern.
The bill’s direction includes supporting the development of near-realtime testing capabilities and convening the private sector, higher education, nonprofits, laboratories and agencies to develop coordinated strategies and voluntary best practices for the safe handling, transport and analysis of such drugs.
Caraveo spoke for the first time on the House floor this past week to discuss the bill. “As a doctor, I’ve seen firsthand the horrific impact of the drug crisis on families in our community. I’ve seen firsthand how addictive, dangerous substances like opioids have wreaked havoc in Colorado — we’re now losing nearly 2,000 Coloradans a year to fentanyl and meth overdoses. And that threat could worsen with the emergence of xylazine,” Caraveo said. “At a time of deep division in our country, I’m encouraged by the bipartisan support to address this next wave of the drug crisis.”
Rep. Ken Buck, a Republican representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, in late March introduced bipartisan legislation addressing xylazine’s spread with Reps. Jimmy Panetta, August Pfluger, Gus Bilirakis and Chris Pappas, as well as Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto, Chuck Grassley and Maggie Hassan. The bill, the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, would classify illicit use of xylazine under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, enable the DEA to track its manufacturing and declare xylazine as an emerging drug threat.
The bill’s most recent action was on April 7, when the House Committee on Energy and Commerce referred it to the Subcommittee on Health.
“Families across Colorado know the true devastation of the opioid epidemic, which has taken too many lives across our country. Ensuring that we add Xylazine, a deadly fentanyl adulterant, to the Controlled Substance Act is critical to saving lives,” Buck was quoted in a news release. “This legislation — supported by both Republicans and Democrats in both chambers of Congress — will give officials the tools necessary to stop this drug before it can cause more damage without debilitating veterinarians and cattle producers who use the substance legally.”