Rep. Sykes Urges Support for H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act, to Combat the Opioid Crisis and Prevent the Spread of “Zombie Drug”
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today during the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) urged support for H.R. 1734, the TRANQ Research Act, to combat the spread of novel synthetic opioids like Xylazine. The hearing came as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order directing the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy to immediately classify Xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance, making Ohio one of the first states in the nation to schedule xylazine as a controlled substance drug.
“The opioid epidemic has had a devastating impact on individuals, families, and communities across Ohio’s 13th Congressional district,” said Rep. Sykes. “That’s why I'm proud to support the TRANQ Research Act, which will save lives by investing in synthetic opioid research. As a student and practitioner of public health, I’ve learned that if something is predictable, it is preventable. The more information that we have about these synthetic opioids, the more we can prevent people from becoming addicted in the first place and ensure that treatment options are well-researched and well-resourced.”
Rep. Sykes is a co-sponsor of the TRANQ Research Act, which directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to deepen its partnerships and strategically focus on the science needed to detect, identify, and better understand synthetic opioids. One particularly dangerous fentanyl analogue contains Xylazine—a veterinary tranquilizer. Tranq, also known as the Zombie Drug, has gruesome side effects, causing large wounds that won’t heal, and is resistant to standard opioid overdose treatments. Its use is skyrocketing across the country and contributing to an ever-growing number of drug overdoses.
According to the Ohio Department of Health, overdose deaths involving xylazine have increased each year in Ohio since 2019, with 15 overdose deaths in 2019, 45 in 2020, and 75 in 2021. Although 2022 mortality data is not yet complete, the Ohio Department of Health recorded 113 xylazine-involved overdose deaths as of March 14, 2022. Of these 248 unintentional drug overdose deaths, 99.2 percent also involved fentanyl.
Watch Rep. Sykes’ full remarks here.