Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and President Joe Biden's drug czar, declared the combination of fentanyl and xylazine, an animal tranquilizer also known as "tranq," as an "emerging threat" due to the increasing number of overdose fatalities in the United States.
Dr. Gupta made a proclamation that mandates a government response from the Biden administration. The US government must now make a response plan public within 90 days, and agencies must receive implementation instructions within 120 days.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Gupta noted that he is profoundly concerned about the danger that the drug combination poses for the country. He went on to say, "We must act, and act now," per NBC News.
The SUPPORT Act, a comprehensive statute signed into law by former President Donald Trump in 2018, gives Gupta the legal ability to legally name an illegal substance as an "emerging threat" and then urge the federal government to take additional action.
Further testing to determine where xylazine is often found in the supply of street drugs is anticipated as part of the Biden administration's reaction in the next few months.
Biden Administration To Push For Tougher Punishments, More Research
According to NPR, the US drug czar also advocated for more investment in medical research geared toward finding remedies for those afflicted.
Gupta also predicted that xylazine, which veterinarians legitimately use as an animal sedative, would be subject to more restrictions from the government.
When police agencies take action against sellers and groups that add xylazine to street narcotics, Gupta suggested that Congress consider toughening criminal punishments.
Overdose fatalities among adolescents have been linked mostly to fentanyl, The Hill reported. According to a 2022 research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the number of teenage deaths caused by illegal fentanyl and other synthetic substances has climbed by more than 20 times between 2010 and 2021, rising from 38 to 884.
Dealers often combine fentanyl with other substances to increase their profits, which puts young people in greater danger of overdosing. Adolescent drug users are particularly vulnerable to the deadly effects of fentanyl because of their age.
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