Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative not approved for human use that is increasingly found as an adulterant in the illicit drug supply and is contributing to record levels of overdose deaths.

The Xylazine 101 Video Explainer discusses the prevalence and toxicology of xylazine, major concerns, and overdose response strategies. Experts share concrete strategies and resources for policymakers, community service workers, and community members to prevent xylazine-related overdoses. These include harm reduction and policy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, as well as among health, criminal-legal, and community service agencies. The explainer also highlights the real experiences of people who have used xylazine and practical considerations from clinicians and harm reductionists.

The video was prepared by the Addiction Policy Forum (APF), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Brandeis University, and Thomas Jefferson University, and in conjunction with the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) Coordination and Translation Center, an initiative funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) through the NIH HEAL Initiative.