White House’s declaration comes a week after Harder pushed DEA for more action. Xylazine was created to sedate 1000-pound horses and is now being mixed with fentanyl.

April 19, 2023 - WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, Representative Josh Harder (CA-9) released the following statement applauding the White House for taking action to combat the surge of Xylazine in street drugs following his letter to the DEA for such action. 

“Getting ahead of this Xylazine surge is how we avoid another fentanyl-like crisis from destroying our communities,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m glad to see the White House is taking steps to address the problem so our local law enforcement and public health officials don’t have to fight this alone. This “zombie drug” is one of the scariest I’ve seen. It doesn’t take much to put someone into a coma. And now that it’s mixed with fentanyl, we could have an even deadlier drug tearing through our neighborhoods.”

Harder is co-leading the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act which would designate Xylazine as a controlled substance and prevent the drug from ending up on the streets by subjecting it to stricter laws for production and distribution. 

Xylazine originated as a tranquilizer for horses and other livestock in veterinary care but has infiltrated street drugs to extend their effects and exacerbated overdoses in the process. Also referred to as “tranq”, Xylazine is highly addictive and can deteriorate flesh at the injection site leading to amputation.
Source: Congressman Josh Harder

Related: Congressman Josh Harder ‘Demands’ Action from DEA on Surge of Fentanyl Laced with “Zombie Drug” Xylazine