San Joaquin Times

WASHINGTON – Rep. Josh Harder (CA-9) just called on the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to provide clear steps for how the agency plans to deal with xylazine-laced fentanyl and to clearly communicate those steps to local law enforcement, first responders, and public health departments. In April, Rep. Harder demanded more resources from the DEA for fighting the growing spread of xylazine in street drugs like fentanyl. On Monday, the White House Office of Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released an all-of-government plan to address the threat of this “zombie drug.”

“The opioid crisis is changing and becoming more deadly, and we need to do everything we can to get law enforcement and first responders who are on the frontlines the tools they need to keep up,” said Rep. Harder. “Fentanyl is now the leading cause of opioid-related overdose deaths, and this new ‘zombie drug’ xylazine is making it even deadlier. Xylazine is a drug meant for veterinarians to sedate horses – no human being should be consuming or injecting it, ever. We need to get local law enforcement the tools they need to get this ‘zombie drug’ off our streets and first responders need clear guidance for how to respond to this crisis.”

Read Rep. Harder’s letter to the DEA HERE and below:

June 13, 2023

Dear Administrator Milgram,

I write today in follow-up to the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) national response plan to address the crisis of xylazine-laced illicit drugs. 

As you know, ONDCP released an all-of-government action plan to address the emerging threat of fentanyl combined with xylazine. This zombie drug is being detected in nearly eleven percent of all opioid-related deaths and in forty-eight out of fifty states. 

Now that the Administration has designated this lethal combination as an emerging threat and provided a roadmap to address this crisis, we need a clear understanding of how your agency plans to address this issue. As I previously mentioned, Fentanyl continues to be the leading cause of opioid-related overdose deaths in my district. We need a plan to address the supply of xylazine and fentanyl in our communities as soon as possible. 

I urge the DEA to provide Congress with a clear plan of how it plans to address this growing threat. Additionally, I urge you to clearly communicate this plan to our local law enforcement, first responders, and public health departments so we can properly protect all Americans – especially those who are putting their own health and safety at risk to save lives. 

Sincerely,

Josh Harder

Member of Congress

Original source can be found here