12.7% of Adults Using Fentanyl or Heroin Have Tried Xylazine

A significant percentage of adults who report using illegally manufactured fentanyl (IMF) or heroin also use xylazine, according to a study published in the July 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The research, led by Xinyi Jiang, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, involved a convenience sample of U.S. adults aged 18 years and older. The participants were evaluated for substance use treatment from July 2022 to September 2023 using the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version clinical assessment tool.

The study revealed that 14.6% of the 43,947 adults reported IMF or heroin as their primary substance-use problem over their lifetime, with 12.2% reporting recent IMF or heroin use. Among those who identified IMF or heroin as their primary lifetime substance-use problem, 12.7% had ever used xylazine. Additionally, 8.3% of adults who used IMF or heroin recently reported recent xylazine use. The research highlighted that adults who reported recent IMF or heroin as their primary substance-use issue and also used xylazine had a median of two past nonfatal overdoses from any drug, compared to a median of one overdose among those who did not use xylazine. Higher percentages of individuals who used xylazine also engaged in other recent substance use and polysubstance use.

The authors of the study emphasize the need for broader interventions to reduce stigma toward individuals who use drugs and to increase awareness of their treatment and service needs. This, they argue, is essential for ensuring that these individuals can access necessary services without judgment.

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