Viral Video Documents ‘Drug Addicts’ in a Disturbing State on the Streets during the Philadelphia Tranq Epidemic
According to reports, there is a drug pandemic in Philadelphia. A number of viral videos purport to depict groups of drug users in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood while they are high. The TikTok account urbanvisuals2.0 published one of the videos, which allegedly depicts a “open-air drug market” with unconscious junkies strewn around.
https://x.com/Shunyaa00/status/1780628163938136362
The images were released during a Xylazine (also known as “tranq”) outbreak in Philadelphia, according to the New York Post. In veterinary medicine, xylazine is a non-opioid drug that is used as a sedative and muscle relaxant. It is often used to animals, including horses, dogs, and cats. WebMD says it’s not authorized for use in humans.
Despite this, xylazine has developed into a street drug that is often misused, especially in the US. It is often discovered combined with other drugs, including cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl. These medications’ effects may be amplified or mimicked by this combo. According to the White House, the substance is now considered a “emerging threat.”
It has also been linked to a notable drop in heart rate and blood pressure. Because of the terrible wounds it may produce, it has been called a “zombie drug” in certain situations.
The Philadelphia Department of Health and Board of Health jointly released a statement last month stating, “Xylazine has hit Philadelphia particularly hard, causing increased overdose deaths as well as severe wounds that can lead to sepsis and amputation.”
“To address this new component of the drug overdose problem, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health has been collaborating closely with partners around the city.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that between January 2019 and June 2022, the percentage of fatal opioid overdoses that included xylazine increased by 276%, from 2.9% to 10.9%.
