Health Department: 'Tranq' use not thought to be widespread at this time

Despite growing concern about drug users mixing fentanyl with xylazine — a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer known as “tranq” — there is no reason to believe that xylazine is widespread in Multnomah County, Multnomah County Health Department spokesperson Sarah Dean told KOIN 6 News.

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Despite growing concern about drug users mixing fentanyl with xylazine — a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer known as “tranq” — there is no reason to believe that xylazine is widespread in Multnomah County, Multnomah County Health Department spokesperson Sarah Dean told KOIN 6 News.

“This practice has been detected in an increasing number of cities across the country, but was first noted in major East Coast cities,” Dean said. “We have evidence of xylazine circulating in Multnomah County although we do not have any evidence or suspicion that xylazine is widespread at this time. Drugs in the Portland area have periodically tested positive for xylazine, and we have confirmed several polysubstance deaths that included xylazine.”

In any death investigation where overdose is suspected, the county performs a toxicology report, Dean said. These toxicology tests also check for xylazine. While the number of overdose deaths involving the mixture of xylazine and fentanyl rose from one in 2022, to five in 2023, no overdose deaths involving xylazine have been confirmed in Multnomah County in 2024.

“Over the last year, the Health Department has incorporated information about xylazine into our harm reduction outreach to people who use drugs,” Dean said.

The Multnomah County Health Department encourages anyone using drugs to visit a harm reduction service location to receive informative material about drug use and other resources, including free naloxone and fentanyl test strips.