'Zombie' Drug Xylazine Discovered in UK Cannabis THC vapes.
UK experts have warned that those using cannabis THC vapes are at risk of inhaling an extremely hazardous substance called xylazine. This follows the seizure and testing of some vape products that were found to contain the "zombie" drug.
UK experts have warned that those using cannabis THC vapes are at risk of inhaling an extremely hazardous substance called xylazine. This follows the seizure and testing of some vape products that were found to contain the "zombie" drug.
Xylazine is a sedative designed to put large farm animals like cows and horses to sleep but can be lethal for humans.
The illegal global xylazine market sees the drug commonly mixed with strong opioids such as heroin or fentanyl.
There has been at least one xylazine-related UK death already in the UK and there are fears that misuse could grow, in the same way as it has in the US.
It has been reported that new types of illegal xylazine products are now entering the UK market. As well as contaminated vapes, authorities have found tablets containing Xylazine that are being sold as codeine and diazepam, or Valium.
The findings have been amassed from evidence collated by researchers who contacted all toxicology laboratories in the UK in 2022.
Drug-testing results from hauls seized by law enforcement were also looked at. The findings of the research were published in the journal Addiction.
What are Cannabis Vapes?
THC is the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis. THC vapes are currently illegal in the UK
CBD is also a main cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant that does not give a high. CBD products, oil and vapes are legal to sell in the UK
The risk is that as THC vapes are an illegally manufactured product, People may not realise what they are buying. People think that they are getting a THC vape when in fact it could be something much more dangerous.
Recently recommended to the government Xylazine was recently recommended to be listed as a Class C drug by The UK's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. This would place it in the same category as anabolic steroids, laughing gas and benzodiazepines. People possessing it under this recommended schedule could face up to a 2-year sentence for possession and up to 14 years for dealing with it.
The health risks of Xylazine can become amplified when it is mixed or taken with other strong sedatives.
Side effects include:
- difficulty breathing
- extremely low blood pressure
- slowed heart rate
- wounds prone to infection
- addiction, severe withdrawal symptoms
- death
Whilst it is still not clear what harm inhaling might do.
Some UK children and teenagers have already required hospital treatment after they were believed to have used a vape spiked with another popular illegal drug, Spice.
"We need to be constantly alert to changes like the illicit drug market, especially as these changes sometimes bring new health complications or challenges." King's College London Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience addictions head Prof Sir John Strang
"We are aware of the threat from xylazine and are determined to protect people from the threat posed by this drug and other illicit synthetic drugs. We will not hesitate to act to keep the public safe. Following advice from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, we intend to make xylazine a Class C drug." government spokesperson
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Liz Filmer
