Managing xylazine-involved overdoses in a community harm reduction setting: lessons from Tijuana, Mexico
2024

Managing Xylazine Overdoses in Tijuana

Sample size: 3 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Bufanda Lilia Pacheco, Montoya Alejandro González, Carrillo Brenda Torres, Tejeda Mariana Alejandra Gonzalez, Segovia Luis A., Calderón-Villarreal Alhelí, Friedman Joseph R.

Primary Institution: Prevencasa A.C. Harm Reduction Clinic, Tijuana, Baja California Mexico

Hypothesis

How can community harm reduction settings effectively manage xylazine-involved overdoses?

Conclusion

The study provides insights into managing xylazine-fentanyl overdoses, emphasizing oxygenation over consciousness in treatment.

Supporting Evidence

  • Xylazine is increasingly found in overdose deaths across North America.
  • The clinical management of xylazine-involved overdoses has not been extensively studied.
  • The study highlights the importance of focusing on oxygenation rather than consciousness in overdose management.

Takeaway

This study shows how a clinic in Tijuana helps people who overdose on a drug called xylazine by focusing on keeping them breathing instead of just waking them up.

Methodology

The study presents three case studies of patients treated for xylazine-involved overdoses.

Limitations

The study is based on a small number of cases and may not be generalizable.

Participant Demographics

Patients included a 61-year-old man, a 28-year-old man, and a 36-year-old man, all with histories of substance use.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/s12954-024-01143-2

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