Baldwin County Coroner Brian Pierce says a dangerous and deadly drug has made its way to the area. Xylazine, also known as "tranq," is a large animal tranquilizer that is unresponsive to emergency reversal treatments.
In 2024, Pierce said there have been around eight deaths where the drug was detected. In one case, the deputy coroner had to be rushed to the hospital after being exposed.
"The particular case was in the back of a truck, so it was a difficult removal, and that's where the gentleman was cooking the drugs, and I think that it was aerosol in the back of this truck," Pierce said. "So, when they removed him from the back seat of the truck, I believe they got exposed because not only did my deputy coroner have symptoms, so did the two gentlemen who worked for our transportation company."
Pierce said the decedent also had fentanyl on him, but he does not think that is what made the responders ill because he said symptoms were not immediate.
"Symptoms did not immediately hit," he explained. "With fentanyl, you see it immediately but with this, it was rather 15 to 20 minutes later, to the point the transportation guys had to pull over because their vision got off and by the time my deputy coroner had driven back to the office, she was sweating, her pupils were dilated, she went between being very jittery to wanting to fall asleep."
At the hospital, all three were given Narcan, an opioid-reversal treatment. However, Narcan does not reverse symptoms from Xylazine because it is not an opioid. Pierce said he is thankful everyone was okay but is changing procedures.
"We are looking over our policy on our PPE to see what else we can do to make our people safe," said Pierce. "Now, if there's any sense of any drugs, we will dress in full PPE."
Xylazine is so potent it can cause severe, necrotic skin ulcerations.
Pierce said he has a warning for people who are getting drugs off the street in Baldwin County.
"I believe the manufacturers are cutting the xylazine into other drugs that they're selling to enhance the effect of either the methamphetamine, the cocaine, or the fentanyl," he said. "This stuff could be pressed into a Xanax bar or anything else. They're just adding it for a greater high. Don't do drugs. Just don't do it."
Pierce said the only way to be safe is to get medications from reputable pharmacies or doctors.
The good news, Pierce said, is that overall drug overdose fatalities have decreased in Baldwin County. There were 77 cases in 2023, and as of now, there have been 56 cases in 2024.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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