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Use of Xylazine in Drug‐Facilitated Crimes
Author(s) -
Krongvorakul Jatupon,
Auparakkita Saranya,
Trakulsrichai Satariya,
Sanguanwit Pitsucha,
Sueajai Jetjamg,
Noumjad Nantida,
Wananukul Winai
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/1556-4029.13684
Subject(s) - xylazine , drug , pharmacology , medicine , medical emergency , anesthesia , ketamine
Human xylazine poisoning is uncommon. This report describes the use of xylazine for intentional poisoning with criminal intent. Two incidents occurred within 3 weeks: the first involved one victim, and the second involved two victims. The clinical presentations were brief coma, bradycardia, hypotension, and hyperglycemia. The victims recalled having been given a drink from a stranger in a hospital waiting room before loss of consciousness. In the first case, general drug screening by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry ( MS ) revealed xylazine in the gastric contents, but liquid chromatography–tandem MS ( LC ‐ MS / MS ) of serum did not. In the second incident, LC ‐ MS / MS screening of both victims’ urine and serum samples revealed an unknown peak in the total ion chromatograms, which a molecular mass database identified as morantel or xylazine. The latter was confirmed by comparison with a xylazine standard. Based on this report, we suggest that xylazine should be classified as a controlled drug.