La Crosse police are investigating nine recent drug overdose deaths amid concerns that a powerful animal tranquilizer may be present in the local supply of illicit opioids.
The La Crosse Police Department, the city’s mayor, Gundersen Health System and Tri-State Ambulance warned the community Tuesday of the large number of fatal overdoses during the first three weeks of 2023.
Toxicology reports on those overdose deaths are pending and may take weeks to complete, the La Crosse Tribune reported.
TEXAS COUNTY IN PASO TO DOUBLE FENTANYL OVERDOSE DEATHS FROM LAST YEAR
La Crosse police are investigating nine fatal drug overdoses that they believe may be related to a powerful animal tranquilizer.
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But the deaths have raised concerns that the animal tranquilizer xylazine, known as “tranq,” may have found its way into local illicit supplies of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine. The tranquilizer can leave users in a stupor for hours, and also causes slowed breathing that interferes with the effectiveness of naloxone, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses.
“We want those struggling with substance abuse to know that there may be a dangerous mix here in our community,” said La Crosse Deputy Police Chief Jason Melby.
The ineffectiveness of naloxone in treating recent overdoses highlights the importance of emergency care, such as supportive breathing, which can keep overdose patients alive even if the drug fails, said Dr. Chris Eberlein, of emergency medicine at Gundersen Health System.
