By Bill Carey
EMS1
HONOLULU — Honolulu EMS is warning its personnel about the veterinary sedative and pain reliever xylazine found at overdose scenes on Oahu.
Medical Director Dr. Sean Covant stated in a memo that they have “begun to see overdose cases involving xylazine in Honolulu,” Hawaii News Now reported.
Honolulu EMS Director Dr. Jim Ireland said the mixing of xylazine, or “tranq,” and fentanyl is a dangerous trend, because Narcan, the antidote for fentanyl and other opioid overdoses, does not work on xylazine.
A horrible side effect of taking the veterinary drug is that users develop large, deep-skin wounds that can lead to amputation.
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