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Mail In Narcan Request

In an effort to help mitigate overdose deaths, the Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission is accepting requests for Narcan, which will be mailed to Westmoreland County residents in need of it.



DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is warning the American public of a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Xylazine, also known as “Tranq,” is a powerful sedative that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved for veterinary use.  

“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” said Administrator Milgram. “DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 States. The DEA Laboratory System is reporting that in 2022 approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained xylazine.”

Xylazine and fentanyl drug mixtures place users at a higher risk of suffering a fatal drug poisoning. Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its effects. Still, experts always recommend administering naloxone if someone might be suffering a drug poisoning. People who inject drug mixtures containing xylazine also can develop severe wounds, including necrosis—the rotting of human tissue—that may lead to amputation.

According to the CDC, 107,735 Americans died between August 2021 and August 2022 from drug poisonings, with 66 percent of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel in Mexico, using chemicals largely sourced from China, are primarily responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in communities across the United States.

FDA recently communicated to health care providers about the risks to patients exposed to xylazine in illicit drugs. A copy of that communication can be found here: FDA alerts healthcare professionals of risks to patients exposed to xylazine in illicit drugs. 

(DEA Reports Widespread Threat of Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine | DEA.gov)

 



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Mon Valley Opioid Coalition

The Mon Valley Opioid Coalition (MVOC) coalition was formed to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic in the Mon Valley area.  Colleen Hughes, Executive Director of Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission and California Borough Police Chief Jim Smith co-chair the coalition.  The coalition, whose vision statement is “Uniting the Mon Valley to ensure the long-term health, safety and well-being of individuals in the region,” meets monthly at Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission’s office building’s training room in Monessen.

The Westmoreland Drug and Alcohol Commission, Washington Drug and Alcohol Commission and Fayette County Drug and Alcohol Commission work together to guide the efforts of the coalition.  MVOC is data based, utilizing data in real time to determine what is most effective in combating opioid use overdoses.  The University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy Pennsylvania Opioid Overdose Reduction Technical Assistance Center, provides “concierge technical assistance” for the coalition.

MVOC Webpage
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