A bipartisan coalition of 39 state and territory attorneys general called on leaders of Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R.1839/S.993). Xylazine is only approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a veterinary medicine and in humans, it is known to depress breathing and heart rate, lower blood pressure, and cause unconsciousness, necrosis, and even death. The Act would provide critical measures to combat the widespread illicit use and trafficking of xylazine and help prevent xylazine-related deaths.

The letter, sent on May 18, 2023, outlines the dramatic increase in xylazine-related overdose deaths in recent years and the growing threat the illicit drug poses to communities across the country. This effort marks the latest in a longstanding commitment from NAAG and its members to help their communities recover from the opioid epidemic.