Title |
Xylazine (veterinary sedative) use in Puerto Rico
|
---|---|
Published in |
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, April 2011
|
DOI | 10.1186/1747-597x-6-7 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Rafael A Torruella |
Abstract |
Human xylazine use in Puerto Rico merits particular attention for its unprecedented scale and depth. Although Puerto Rican injecting drug users (IDUs) have reported using this drug since the early 2000s, little is being done in the research and service delivery sectors as it is claimed that xylazine severely impacts the health of its users. This report provides information on xylazine use and its associated harms. Data from one semi-structured interview collected in New York City (2007-2008) as part of a larger research study with migrant Puerto Rican drug users is presented as a case study. Xylazine, a veterinary sedative, is an adulterant and complement to other drugs and its chronic use is reported to be associated with physical deterioration. Because human xylazine use has been reported in other locations outside of Puerto Rico, this substance could also emerge as an adulterant in other markets to the levels currently experienced in Puerto Rico. Research and interventions are needed to provide adequate services on the island, better understand how the use of xylazine affects its users, and to reduce the possibility of increased xylazine use on the state-side. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 8 | 35% |
Japan | 1 | 4% |
Puerto Rico | 1 | 4% |
Austria | 1 | 4% |
Unknown | 12 | 52% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 19 | 83% |
Practitioners (doctors, other healthcare professionals) | 2 | 9% |
Scientists | 1 | 4% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 4% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Puerto Rico | 2 | 4% |
Unknown | 55 | 96% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Other | 10 | 18% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 7 | 12% |
Researcher | 6 | 11% |
Student > Master | 5 | 9% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 4 | 7% |
Other | 10 | 18% |
Unknown | 15 | 26% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Medicine and Dentistry | 9 | 16% |
Social Sciences | 8 | 14% |
Nursing and Health Professions | 6 | 11% |
Psychology | 5 | 9% |
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | 4 | 7% |
Other | 8 | 14% |
Unknown | 17 | 30% |