Monroe County links horse tranquilizer to deadly overdoses

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Monroe County is warning residents that a deadly substance has been identified in street drugs and linked to recent fatal overdoses.

The substance is called xylazine and it’s commonly referred to as horse tranquilizer.

The county says it’s a substance that is not approved for human use and it can cause blurred vision, disorientation, dizziness, slurred speech, fatigue, stop breathing and lower blood pressure and heart rate.

It’s used to cut heroin, fentanyl and cocaine and NARCAN does not work on it, though it does work on the opioids that xylazine is often mixed with, according to the county.

County residents who need treatment and care can call Open Access at 585-627-1777, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Earlier this week, doctors at Strong Memorial Hospital told News10NBC that xylazine has become more common on the streets of Rochester and other cities in the Northeast.