HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. — A new study reveals Indiana is now among the top 20 states that had the highest use of fentanyl laced with xylazine.
That's according to a new study by Millenium Health that reveals 21% of urine samples tested in Indiana that were positive for fentanyl were also positive for xylazine samples.
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison said there are a number of drugs mixed with illicit substances.
"We commonly see at the scene of an overdose blue pills stamped 'M30.' These are pills that look like medication. They are not. They are cocktails of emerging drugs, xylazine being one of them, fentanyl, heroin, and they're just pills of poison," Jellison said.
Xylazine is an animal tranquilizer used by veterinarians. It is often referred to as the "zombie drug," as it can slow the brain, breathing, heartbeat and lower blood pressure.
RELATED: 'It's a poison' | 'Zombie drug' traced back to Marion County through syringe service program
It's not an opioid, so Narcan isn't effective.
"They're being purchased on the black market pharmacies, they're being purchased from the street and the problem is one pill can kill," Jellison said. "It's not that it has to build a tolerance in you or that you have to take X amount. One pill will kill, and that's scary because a lot of times, people aren't expecting these pills to be this cocktail of death."
Jellison is focused on ways to combat the problem.
"There now is emerging technology that we specifically are looking at to where we can have toxicology back on an individual in 30 minutes," Jellison said.
That's instead of the standard 10-day period.
It's one tool to help narrow an area where the overdoses occurred and potentially help law enforcement get dealers off the street faster.
"If you know or are working a case on an individual dealing in that area, then you need to get him locked up because it's not gonna stop at three. It'll be 10 before it's over," Jellison said.
Millenium Health reports the xylazine positivity rate in the East North Central part of the United States, which includes Indiana, dropped 4.9% between April and October of 2023 and the following six months.
Still, it remains the second highest area behind mid-Atlantic states.
Jellison said in order to curb drug use, it starts with users getting the help and resources they need.
"If you are an illegal substance user, reach out and get help. If you are the family member of an illegal substance user, reach out and get help. There's a stigma sometimes that follows that, and that's why people won't do that," Jellison said. "But I will promise you one thing: If you don't reach out and get help, you will be on my autopsy table. Reaching out and getting help doesn't always mean that you're going to get arrested."