Akron Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C.— On May 11, U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) voted in favor of H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act,of which she is a cosponsor,to combat the spread of novel synthetic opioids like Xylazine.

“The opioid epidemic has devastated individuals, families, and communities across Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, and the rise of synthetic opioids like ‘tranq’ has only made this crisis worse. To combat this public health emergency, Congress must provide critical federal resources to help prevent people from becoming addicted and to ensure all treatment options are well-resourced and well-researched,” said Rep. Sykes. “The TRANQ Research Act will save lives by investing in synthetic opioid research because when something is predictable, it is preventable.”

During House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Rep. Sykes spoke to the importance of the TRANQ Research Act for Ohio’s 13th District. Watch her full remarks here.

Rep. Sykes is a co-sponsor of the TRANQ Research Act, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to deepen its partnerships and strategically focus on the science needed to detect, identify, and better understand synthetic opioids. One particularly dangerous fentanyl analogue contains Xylazine — a veterinary tranquilizer. Tranq, also known as the Zombie Drug, has gruesome side effects, causing large wounds that won’t heal, and is resistant to standard opioid overdose treatments. Its use is skyrocketing across the country and contributing to an ever-growing number of drug overdoses.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, overdose deaths involving xylazine have increased each year in Ohio since 2019, with 15 overdose deaths in 2019, 45 in 2020, and 75 in 2021. Although 2022 mortality data is not yet complete, the Ohio Department of Health recorded 113 xylazine-involved overdose deaths as of March 14, 2022. Of these 248 unintentional drug overdose deaths, 99.2 percent also involved fentanyl.

On March 29, 2023, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order directing the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy to immediately classify Xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance, making Ohio one of the first states in the nation to schedule xylazine as a controlled substance drug.

The TRANQ Research Act now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.

Original source can be found here.