Canadian company develops test for 'tranq dope' in street drugs — but it's not available in Canada

A Canadian biotech company has developed new test strips to detect the dangerous animal tranquillizer xylazine in the highly toxic street drug supply — but while the strips are already shipping across the U.S., Canada hasn't yet approved the potentially lifesaving tool.

Xylazine, also known as "tranq," "tranq dope" or "zombie drug," is a severely potent veterinary tranquillizer typically used as a sedative in large farm animals such as horses that is being cut with opioids like fentanyl to prolong their effects.

The sedative is not approved for use in humans in Canada and its long-term effects on human health are unknown, but it can cause hours-long blackouts, and studies have shown those who inject drugs that contain xylazine may develop horrific, painful wounds or lesions that can lead to amputation if left untreated.

Health officials have said the sedative can also drastically slow breathing, lower blood pressure and drop heart rate, while greatly increasing the risk of fatal overdoses when mixed with opioids like fentanyl. 

To make a bad situation worse, one of the best overdose prevention tools available — the life-saving overdose-reversal medication naloxone — is rendered completely ineffective against xylazine because it's not an opioid, meaning attempts to revive people can be futile. Harm reduction advocates and substance use experts warn that this is greatly increasing the risk for fatal overdoses.

The test strips developed by Canadian biotech company BTNX Inc., work similarly to ones it makes to detect fentanyl. They can allow users, harm reduction workers and public health units to easily test street drugs for xylazine, which is increasingly showing up in the supply.

A recent report from Health Canada shows the rapid spread of xylazine across the country during the past few years, with a growing number of street drug samples seized by law enforcement agencies testing positive for the tranquillizer — overwhelmingly in Ontario.

In 2018, there were just five samples of xylazine analyzed by Health Canada's Drug Analysis Service, which tests tens of thousands of drugs apprehended by the Canada Border Services Agency, the Correctional Service of Canada and police forces each year.

By 2019, that number grew to 205. Last year alone there were 1,350.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration released a public safety alert in November warning that its labs found xylazine in seven per cent of fentanyl pills and 23 per cent of fentanyl powder seized by law enforcement. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has moved to restrict imports of pharmaceutical ingredients used to manufacture xylazine, while U.S. Congress has moved to add the tranquillizer to its list of controlled substances to help law enforcement crack down on it. 

Health Canada said in a statement to CBC News that it is currently working with law enforcement and other stakeholders to determine what further actions can be taken to address the illegal importation of xylazine into Canada. 

"Xylazine, an authorized prescription veterinary drug that has been approved for use in animals but not humans, is subject to the Food and Drugs Act and its regulations," a spokesperson said. "However, it is currently not controlled under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act." 

Health Canada also confirmed the xylazine test strips are not yet licensed for sale in Canada, but did receive a medical device licence application from BTNX on March 17 and said the application is currently in process. BTNX is also one of the largest suppliers of COVID-19 rapid tests in Canada.