Buck, Panetta, & Bilirakis Introduce Legislation to Crack Down on Xylazine

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Ken Buck (CO-04), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), August Pfluger (TX-11), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), and Chris Pappas (NH-01) are introducing the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation with U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV.), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to crack down and schedule the highly dangerous sedative causing fatal overdoses nationwide.

Xylazine, also known as "tranq," is an easily accessible veterinary tranquilizer that is being used as a low-cost cutting agent, and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently reported 23% of fentanyl powder contained it in 2022. Xylazine causes depressed breathing and heart rate, unconsciousness, necrosis, and even death, and naloxone does not reverse its effects because it is not an opioid.

Despite alarming reports about the rise of xylazine, which has been called a "zombie drug," federal, state, and local law enforcement do not have the tools necessary to effectively track it or crack down on traffickers using it to increase their profits.

The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would address this gap in federal law by:

• Classifying its illicit use under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act;
• Enabling the DEA to track its manufacturing to ensure it is not diverted to the illicit market;
• Requiring a report on prevalence, risks, and recommendations to best regulate illicit use of xylazine;
• Ensuring all salts and isomers of xylazine are covered when restricting its illicit use;
• Declaring xylazine an emerging drug threat.

"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 Substances Act is critical to saving lives," said Congressman Buck. "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."

"The recent rise in the illicit use of the combination of xylazine and fentanyl threatens the health and safety of every community. This toxic brew of drugs makes fentanyl, which has taken thousands of lives in California and around the country each year, not just cheaper but deadlier and more addictive," said Representative Panetta. "Although xylazine has legitimate uses in agriculture, we need to prevent it from being misused on the streets. My bipartisan, bicameral legislation will provide federal and local law enforcement with better tools to track xylazine, prevent its misuse, prosecute and penalize its illegal traffickers, and, ultimately, help protect our families and communities from the scourge of fentanyl."

"Our goal is to save lives and to make sure law enforcement has the tools its needs to respond appropriately to those who are making these deadly concoctions that are killing so many of our neighbors," said Congressman Bilirakis. "At the same time, we must ensure that those veterinarians who are using xylazine for legitimate purposes have the ability to continue doing so. Our legislation strikes that right balance."

Xylazine is essential in veterinary medicine with large animals, and while this legislation will help law enforcement crack down on its illicit use, it will also protect access for veterinarians, farmers, cattlemen, and ranchers by protecting the veterinary medicine use of xylazine. This legislation has been endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Nevada Cattlemen Association, National Association of Police Organizations, National Narcotic Officers' Associations' Coalition, United States Deputy Sheriff's Association, Peace Officers Research Association of California, North American Meat Institute, Animal Health Institute, and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

"The AVMA fully supports this congressional effort to combat illicit xylazine," said Dr. Lori Teller, American Veterinary Medical Association. "The proposed legislation will equip law enforcement with additional tools to stop xylazine trafficking. We urge Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act quickly as it strikes the right balance of protecting our communities while preserving veterinary access to this critically important animal drug.

"Xylazine, a common pharmaceutical drug used in animals, has begun contributing to the opioid crisis that plagues our nation's communities," said Bill Johnson, Executive Director, National Association of Police Organizations. "A drug that is meant for sedation and anesthesia in horses and cows has followed the trend of fentanyl and is being reported as an additive to illicit drugs. This drug has serious and deadly consequences and there is currently no approved drug to reverse its effects on humans. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is calling for xylazine to be classified as a Schedule III drug and invoke penalties on those who choose to illicitly use and distribute the drug. We stand with Senators Cortez Masto, Grassley, Hassan, Risch, Shaheen, and Capito and applaud their efforts to save countless lives."

The full text of the bill can be found HERE.