Public health warns 'Zombie drug' is circulating in Guelph
Xylazine – an animal tranquilizer detected in an increasing number of opioid-related deaths in Ontario – has been identified in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph region, the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy warns.
In an alert posted on Friday, the drug strategy says xylazine, also known as “tranq” or “Zombie drug,” does not respond to naloxone, increasing the risk of fatal overdose.
Rita Isley, Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health community health director, said while many drug can cause lesions or abscesses when injected, the affects of xylazine are often more severe.
“We are seeing that those lesions are much more significant, can lead to in depth tissue damage and could also lead to amputation and or death if it’s not treated properly,” Isley said. “And we’re seeing it more frequently in people who have been using drugs with xylazine in it, versus people who are using other injectable type drugs.”
Public health recommends carrying naloxone and never using alone to reduce the risk of overdose.
The Consumption and Treatment Service Site (CTS) at Guelph’s Community health Centre is open Monday through Sunday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Man who set himself on fire outside Trump trial dies of injuries, police say
A man who doused himself in an accelerant and set himself on fire outside the courthouse where former President Donald Trump is on trial has died, police said.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.