Congress reintroduces bipartisan xylazine bill
The legislation seeks to empower law enforcement and fight the opioid epidemic while also protecting access to the drug for veterinary use
Photo courtesy of Kristen Coppock Crossley, MA
The US Capitol Building in Washington, DC.
A bipartisan bill has reintroduced the Combating Illicit Zylazine Act in Congress. Endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the legislation would both categorize xylazine as a Schedule III controlled substance and provide protection to animal care professionals that prescribe and administer the veterinary tranquilizer.1,2
Xylazine is a nonopioid sedative used in the care of large animals, and is not approved for use in humans. It was earlier declared an emerging threat by The White House’s Office of National Drug Policy, and a National Response Plan was released in 2023.3
According to the AVMA, xylazine is often used as a prescription sedative for cattle, horses, wildlife and research species. It has an important use in veterinary medicine as it allows for the safe handling and treatment of many animal species.2 However, the drug has affected the human opioid crisis because it is sometimes mixed with fentanyl, and overdoses involving xylazine have been reported. However, xylazine is not currently listed as a controlled substance in the US.3
“Our country is facing a drug epidemic that has devasted families and communities across America. We must crack down on deadly drugs being flooded into our communities, especially given that drug traffickers are turning to xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, to make drugs more addictive—and more deadly,” US Representative August Pfluger (R-TX), one of the bill’s Congressional sponsors, said in news releases.1,2
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Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) cosponsored the bill in the House of Representatives. US Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) led a bipartisan group of sponsors to bring the bill to the US Senate.1
“Illicit xylazine is exacerbating the deadly fentanyl crisis and devastating our communities,” Panetta said in news releases.1,2 “The bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is how we fight back…With strong bipartisan and bicameral support, we are pushing for urgent action to stop this dangerous drug and save more lives.”
In addition to listing xylazine as a controlled substance, the bill proposes enabling the US Drug Enforcement Administration to track manufacturing of the drug by requiring manufacturers and distributors to report inventory and sales to the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System, as a way to help ensure xylazine is not diverted to the illicit market. It would also require the prevalence, risks and recommendations for xylazine to be reported.1
In a public statement, Cortez Masto said the drug poses a growing threat to her Nevada jurisdiction, and the time for Congress to act is now. “Our law enforcement officers simply don’t have the tools they need to keep our communities safe from this dangerous drug,” Cortez Masto said in the releases.1,2
Grassley said the bill recognizes the public health threat of xylazine and provides law enforcement with new tools to combat the drug's reach. “Illicit xylazine is contributing to the national drug epidemic and driving up overdose deaths in communities across the country. Our nation’s laws must keep pace with emerging drug trends,” Grassley said in a news release.1,2
The sponsoring lawmakers said the bill also aims to ensure that veterinarians as well as ranchers and farmers can continue to use the drug for legitimate treatment of animals. The proposed legislation would create a clear definition of those professionals who are lawfully permitted to possess xylazine for veterinary use.1
In a public statement about the Congressional bill, Sandra Faeh, DVM, president of the AVMA, said the Combating Illicit Zylazine Act strikes the right balance of addressing the public health threat that the drug poses, and affording veterinary access for continued use as an animal sedative. “This legislation is essential to protecting our communities from the grave health and safety risks of illicit xylazine, upholding animal welfare, supporting public health, and ensuring our nation’s veterinarians are equipped with all the necessary resources to provide high-quality veterinary care,” Faeh added.1,2
The AVMA’s advocacy contributed to the reintroduction of the Combating Illicit Zylazine Act, according to the association. Faeh also noted that the AVMA is looking forward to working with Congress on getting the bill passed into law.2
References
- Cortez Masto, Grassley reintroduce bipartisan legislation to crack down on deadly fentanyl additive xylazine. News release. February 12, 2025. Accessed February 12, 2025. https://www.cortezmasto.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cortez-masto-grassley-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-crack-down-on-deadly-fentanyl-additive-xylazine/
- AVMA-endorsed xylazine legislation reintroduced in Congress. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. February 12, 2025. Accessed February 12, 2025.
- What you should know about xylazine. CDC. May 16, 2024. Accessed February 12, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/what-you-should-know-about-xylazine.html
