Jeff Augustino, 62, sits outside his tent in the Toms River homeless camp. Augustino can't work because he has ruptured discs in his back that he couldn't have repaired because he was already being treated for cancer.
Los Angeles, California – A powerful veterinary tranquilizer known as tranq is rapidly infiltrating the illicit drug supply in Los Angeles, alarming federal officials, health experts, and outreach workers as the city confronts a disturbing surge in overdose cases and disfiguring injuries, particularly among its homeless population.
Tranq, also known as xylazine, was originally developed to sedate large animals. But when laced into street fentanyl—a practice now increasingly common across Southern California—it becomes a toxic combination that is not only deadly, but also resistant to traditional overdose reversal drugs like Narcan. In recent months, the drug has gained notoriety for its association with zombie-like states and grotesque flesh wounds, earning it the nickname “the zombie drug.”
Researchers and public health professionals say the rise of tranq marks a grim evolution in the opioid crisis, one that current tools are ill-equipped to handle. Dr. Joseph Friedman, an addiction researcher at UC San Diego, recently published findings that document tranq’s presence in fentanyl samples across Southern California and parts of Mexico. He describes the drug’s emergence as part of a disturbing “new normal” in the region’s street drug landscape.
On Skid Row, the consequences are already visible. People experiencing homelessness, many of whom already struggle with addiction and mental health conditions, are bearing the brunt of this latest wave. Some users have shown signs of severe tissue decay after only days of exposure, with open sores and abscesses becoming increasingly common.
Federal agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection say that while tranq remains a small portion of total drug seizures, its presence is increasing rapidly. This year alone, agents have intercepted over 48,000 pounds of narcotics, and xylazine is showing up with greater frequency in both pill and powder form.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is particularly concerned about the drug’s invisibility in lab testing. Because xylazine is not a controlled substance, many local labs don’t screen for it, creating dangerous blind spots in surveillance and enforcement.
In Los Angeles, DEA agents have intercepted kilos of fentanyl-laced xylazine dyed purple—an apparent branding move by traffickers. “Enough to kill everyone in downtown L.A.,” one agent warned.
Public health officials say the rise of xylazine demands urgent action, including expanded drug testing, better data collection, and more robust harm reduction strategies. But on the street, the reality remains bleak. For many users, the risks are known—but the high is too powerful to resist.
“It’s a gamble we take,” one user told reporters. “It’s something we live with.”
