BILL NUMBER:  S7397

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public health law, in relation to designating
Xylazine as a schedule III depressant

 PURPOSE :

This bill designates Xylazine as a schedule III controlled substance.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section one amends subdivision (c) of schedule III of section 3306 of
the public health law, regarding schedules of controlled substances,
to add a new paragraph 15 to include Xylazine
(N-2,6-dimethylpheny1)-5,6-dihydro-4H-1,3 thiazin-2-amine) as a
schedule III controlled substance.

Section two establishes the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Xylazine is a veterinary sedative primarily used on horses during
substantially painful procedures such as castration and dental work.
Much like ketamine, which was classified under New York law as a
              

schedule III controlled substance in 1997, the drug is being diverted
for human use causing severe adverse health effects. The Department of
Health reached out to local EMS warning them of the dangers of
Xylazine-laced heroin, which has emerged as the most recent threat in
the State's battle against the heroin epidemic. Heroin dealers are
using this dangerous substance to "enhance" the effects of their
product, thus increasing demand and dependency.

Nicknamed the "zombie drug," Xylazine depresses the central nervous
system, causing individuals to drift in and out of consciousness even
while standing, causing a zombie-like appearance. Furthermore, it has
cardiodepressive effects which can result in a coma, cardiac arrest
and severe hypotension. This heroin-xylazine combination is so potent
that it can take multiple doses of naloxone to revive an overdose
victim, and even this regime is not guaranteed to be effective.
Adding xylazine to the controlled substance schedule can ensure proper
safeguards against diversion, and help combat the heroin epidemic
currently plaguing the state.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

New bill

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None to the State

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have
become a law.