Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Sarasota law enforcement and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) on Wednesday issued a public safety alert about the dangers of xylazine, which is a deadly drug that is more commonly known as "tranq" or "zombie drug.”

Xylazine got its name after the rotting wounds the drug has been known to cause on users.

Officials say xylazine is a tranquilizer approved for veterinary use.

Moody, who was joined Wednesday by Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt Hoffman and FDLE Special Agent in Charge Eli Lawson, says the drug is often mixed with fentanyl, and that it doesn't respond to overdose-reversing treatment such as naloxone.

FDLE says xylazine is now the 6th most identifiable drug in the state.

According to Moody's office, the drug was the 11th most frequently identified drug in FDLE crime labs in 2021.

More than 230 Floridians died with the drug in their systems in 2021, Moody said. Sarasota County had the third-highest number of deaths in the state.

"People need to know that these this unique substance, xylazine, is now in the drug supply here in Sarasota County, and we expect this will only continue to increase until there is some sort of nationwide approach, and until we can get folks that have been struggling with illicit substance disorders to challenges to seek help," Moody said.

At Footprints Beachside Recovery in Treasure Island, president and co-founder John Templeton, Jr. said no clients have been impacted by xylazine yet.

He said the substance is on Footprints’ radar.

“It’s really concerning,” said Templeton. “We’re dealing with people that, you know, their willpower alone is preventing them from just stopping usage. Substance abuse addiction is a disease that centers in the mind.”

Templeton said it’s particularly concerning that it’s being combined with opioids, which are highly addictive and difficult to quit cold turkey.

“A lot of times, some form of therapy is really needed and anybody struggling out there, there’s no shame in getting help," he said.

Florida outlawed xylazine in 2016. Moody is calling on federal officials to take action to stop the flow of the drug.

Moody also urged anyone who may have put off seeking treatment for addiction to do so to avoid coming into contact with drugs mixed with xylazine.

Resources can be found at https://doseofrealityfl.com/ and https://treatmentatlas.org/.