Animal tranquillizer detected in human drug poisoning deaths in Ontario
Posted April 3, 2022 7:08 am.
Last Updated April 3, 2022 7:09 am.
A powerful drug used to sedate horses and cattle is creeping into Canada’s illicit drug supply and has been detected in a growing number of human drug poisoning deaths in Ontario.
The animal tranquillizer xylazine produces a deep state of sedation that affects cardiovascular function and can induce vomiting.
Data from the Ontario coroner’s office show the drug was linked to 26 deaths last year, including three in which it was a direct cause.
It was detected in just five overdose deaths the year before.
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Results from Get Yours Drug Tested, a free drug-checking site in Vancouver, also show it’s being detected more often.
Since the service was founded in May 2019, 85 samples have come back positive for xylazine, mostly from areas in B-C, but also from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
Last year, there were 50 positive results, up from just five in 2020.
So far this year, the drug has been detected in 28 samples.
