Explainer: what is the new ‘zombie drug’ Xylazine and what should we know about it arriving in Ireland?

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Eilish O'Regan

It is strong enough to knock out elephants and has been dubbed the "zombie drug" or "tranq." After causing multiple deaths in the UK the fear now is that it is at risk of infiltrating the illicit drug market in Ireland.

Xylazine is already known to have turned some US cities in to zombielands but it is now closer to home and after a recent study highlighting its role in the deaths of 11 people in Britain.