In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the increasing use of xylazine as an adulterant in illicit drug mixtures. This rise in the prevalence of xylazine has also coincided with an uptick in overdose deaths. Originally designed for veterinary purposes as a tranquilizer and anesthetic, xylazine is not classified as a controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act and is not approved for human use.
Poly-drug intake, such as the addition of xylazine to synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, significantly increases the risk of overdose. Individuals using illicit drugs might not be aware of the presence of non-opioid substances, such as xylazine, in drug products. Given the concerns about the role of xylazine in opioid overdoses, it is essential to employ a comprehensive drug screening approach. SWATH DIA is a valuable tool for this purpose as it collects MS/MS fragment data on all features present in a sample. This untargeted screening approach provides information to aid in identifying and quantifying known and emerging drugs and adulterants in toxicology samples.
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