Attorney General James Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Protect Communities from Illicit Xylazine

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a bipartisan coalition of 40 other attorneys general in calling on Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. The bipartisan legislation would classify the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine – which is often mixed with fentanyl and other opioids – as a federal controlled substance to better protect communities and reduce opioid overdose deaths. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, Attorney General James and the coalition explain the dangers of illicit xylazine, which is causing an increasing number of opioid overdose deaths, and argue that federally classifying xylazine as a controlled substance is essential to helping law enforcement stop the spread of the drug.

“Xylazine makes deadly opioids like fentanyl even deadlier, and it is rapidly spreading to every state in the country,” said Attorney General James. “We need every tool at our disposal so we can investigate and stop the spread of this dangerous drug to protect our communities. This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense and necessary step to help law enforcement get xylazine off our streets.”

Xylazine, widely known by its street name “tranq,” is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer used for large animals, including horses and deer, and is not approved for any human use. Xylazine is not an opioid and therefore does not respond to the overdose reversal drug naloxone, greatly increasing its lethality when mixed with opioids. In recent years, xylazine has been mixed with illicit opioids, most commonly fentanyl.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the lack of information on xylazine’s development, distribution, and related deaths makes it difficult to track and stop the spread of the drug. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would classify xylazine as a controlled substance, would allow the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to track the manufacturing of the drug, prevent diversion, and mandate public reporting. With more information on the development, distribution, and use of xylazine, law enforcement professionals would be better equipped to fight against this rising threat. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the legislation with strong bipartisan support. In their letter, the attorneys general urge Congress to immediately pass this legislation to help address the opioid epidemic and save lives.

Attorney General James is a national leader in combating the opioid crisis. To date, Attorney General James has secured more than $3 billion to support New York opioid abatement, treatment, and prevention efforts from companies that fueled the opioid epidemic, including Purdue, Mylan, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Teva Pharmaceuticals, and Johnson & Johnson, among others. Attorney General James has also led multistate coalitions in reaching settlements for billions of dollars with CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart for their roles in failing to properly regulate opioid prescriptions, and secured settlements with consulting firm McKinsey & Company and the marketing firm Publicis Health for their role in fueling the opioid crisis. Attorney General James has also led numerous investigations to stop major drug trafficking networks across the state, including in Central New York, Western New York, the Hudson Valley, Brooklyn, and the Capital Region.

The letter is led by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of Arkansas, Connecticut, and Tennessee. Joining the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.