Source: WUSF
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed to reclassify xylazine, a sedative increasingly found in fentanyl-laced street drugs, to preserve Veterinary access while restricting misuse. Currently classified as a controlled substance in Florida, xylazine would remain illegal for public possession or sale but gain an exemption for licensed veterinarians. Farmers could only obtain it through prescriptions.
Widely used in Veterinary medicine, particularly for sedating large animals like horses and cattle, xylazine is FDA-approved for animals but not humans. Illicit use, especially in combination with fentanyl, produces the street drug “tranq”, linked to severe overdoses and life-threatening side effects that resemble opioid toxicity. The FDA banned illegal importation of xylazine in 2023, and Florida previously issued a public safety alert about its dangers. Uthmeier emphasized the change balances public health with agricultural needs: ensuring veterinarians retain access while preventing drug dealers from exploiting the substance.