The growing concern at the DEA Chicago Field Division is that fentanyl, the often-deadly opioid, is increasingly being mixed with synthetic tranquilizers at alarming rates.
Todd Smith, Special Agent in Charge of DEA Chicago, told the ABC7 I-Team the danger is real and lethal as those dangerous cocktails of illegal drugs are entering the Chicago area at increasing rates.
"The biggest challenge with xylazine and medetomidine is Narcan will not reduce. Narcan will not reverse if you go into an overdose," he said.
Xylazine and medetomidine, are not opioids they are synthetic animal tranquilizers and when mixed with fentanyl in a pill or powder form the overdose reversal drug Narcan may not work.
Some overdoses may require physical intervention.
"You have to administer CPR to keep that person alive. If you don't, they're going to die," explained Smith, who also said because of renewed relations with the Mexican government to intercept fentanyl precursors into the country, cartels have been forced to pivot to keep their product potent with hazardous new blends.
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"We've been working for years with the government of Mexico, but most recently, there has been better collaboration with the Mexican government to go after these foreign terrorist organizations. To try to intercept those shipments before they arrive to Mexico and can be put into the illicit drug supply market," Smith said.
And while the DEA is fervently fighting fentanyl and other deadly drugs, it's not lost on the city's top drug enforcer there are other substances of concern where the DEA does not have jurisdiction such as tianeptine , also known as gas station heroin. Over the counter sales in Illinois are now prohibited but recently the drug was blamed for a death in Pennsylvania.
"The real challenge is, is getting people prosecuted when the laws don't exist, we can't prosecute people," Smith said. "So, we've got a lot of threats facing us in the Chicago area. You know, we're laser focused on illicit fentanyl and what's driving overdoses, but we're keenly aware of these, these highly addictive substances being sold at smoke shops and gas stations."
Smith also emphasized the warning comes at an inflection point in the year as many young people are gathering for summer activities and celebrating transitions to high school and college. He is asking parents to have the conversation: if you don't know where it's from, don't put it in your body.