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GC–MS confirmation of xylazine (Rompun), a veterinary sedative, in exchanged needles

2008; Elsevier BV; Volume: 96; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.03.005

1879-0046

Nayra Rodríguez, José Vargas Vidot, Juan Panelli, Héctor M. Colón, Bob Ritchie, Yasuhiro Yamamura,

Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis

In order to assess the extent of xylazine (Xyz) injection in Puerto Rico, two waves of used-syringe collections were performed. In the first, syringes were gathered, anonymously and without additional information; in the second, a short interview, also anonymous, was administered. We found Xyz in 37.6% of the collected syringes; the majority of the Xyz-containing syringes came from ranching communities. Syringes containing Xyz more frequently also contained "speedball" than those without (90.6% and 66.7%, respectively). Self-reports of Xyz injection deviated markedly from actual detection: only 50% (self-described users) and 22% (self-described non-users) of the collected syringes contained the drug. With a high prevalence of skin ulcers (38.5% vs. 6.8%; p<0.001), Xyz users were more likely to be in poor health compared to non-users. Surprisingly, though a higher percentage of Xyz users than non-users had college-level educations (23.1% vs. 5.5%), they were more likely to be homeless (64.1% vs. 37%).