Karl Warburton (43 years old, in West Midlands, England) died in May last year due to the effects of xylazine (also known as "zombie" drug, "zombie" drug, "living dead" drug) combined with other drugs including heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, the Daily Mail recently reported.
This is the first time the drug has been detected outside North America.
Mr Warburton was found dead at his home in Smith's Wood, Birmingham, in May last year, surrounded by paraphanelia. He died in May 2022, but has only been recognised as the first UK victim of xylazine, following research published last week by scientists at King's College London.
The study screened all drug deaths in the UK's National Drug Misuse Death Programme for cases that were detected with xylazine - and found one. The report on the case has been published in the scientific journal Journal of forensic and legal medicine .
The victim had an unhappy childhood, battled drug abuse for much of his life and struggled to overcome his addiction.
The investigation confirmed his death was drug-related.
The victim died of acute aspiration pneumonia, a disease often caused by inhaling toxic substances. And the death certificate listed the drug xylazine as a contributing factor.
What is the drug xylazine?
Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer that is approved for use in animals in the US, but has flooded the US illegal drug market, according to the Daily Mail .
The drug works by stimulating the animal's muscles to relax and reduce pain. It reduces the amount of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine released into the central nervous system.
There is currently little research on its effects in humans.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says xylazine takes effect within minutes and lasts up to four hours in animals. It's not clear how long it lasts in humans.
In many cases, it leaves users "collapsed" in alleys and alleys for hours. When they wake up, the euphoria from the drug has subsided, and they start injecting again.
This drug can make users "collapse" in every corner for hours.
Why is it called "zombie" medicine, "undead" medicine?
Also known as the "zombie" or "undead" drug, it puts users in a zombie-like state and rotting their skin from the inside, causing ulcers, often far from the injection site. The wounds look like "flesh being eaten from the inside out," according to the Daily Mail .
The reason is thought to be that the drug causes high levels of inflammation in the body, making it harder for wounds to heal.
It can also damage blood vessels and weaken the immune system, making the victim more susceptible to infection.
Other side effects of the drug include: blurred vision, disorientation, drowsiness, and staggering. It can also lead to coma, difficulty breathing, and high blood pressure.
Many patients are disfigured by the drug. In cases where the wound becomes infected and spreads to the bone, amputation may be required.
The drug also causes "progressive and widespread" skin ulcers that kill tissue.
The drug reached Los Angeles late last year. The US Drug Enforcement Administration has issued urgent warnings about it.
Source link
Comment (0)