For years, #WestVirginia has led the nation in drug #overdose deaths per capita — an epidemic recently fueled by #fentanyl and its analogs — but a powerful sedative known as “tranq” is bringing new challenges. The so-called “zombie drug” xylazine is on the rise in major urban areas like New York City and Philadelphia. But it is West Virginia where the worst opioid crisis resides. #Tranq, which is often mixed with fentanyl, showed up in about 5% of syringes when researchers at West Virginia University (WVU) started tracking the data just over a year ago. By August, the drug was detected in nearly 20% of samples tested, according to WVU’s data. Read more at the link in our bio.