The Georgia Department of Health is alerting the public about an increase in overdose deaths related to a new drug. Theres a new, non-opioid making its way around, causing officials to send out a warning ahead of St. Patricks Day.The more drugs you put into a mix, the more synergistic bad of an outcome you can have, said internal medicine doctor Timothy Connelly.Dr. Connelly, who works for Memorial Health, explains why xylazine is being called the zombie drug and why its being mixed more frequently now with opioids. Its a sedative medication that's a powerful muscle relaxer, said Dr. Connelly. It also drops the blood pressure, and it amplifies the narcotic.According to the Georgia Department of Health, xylazine-involved deaths increased by 1120% from 2020 to 2022 in the state, all involving fentanyl. But, unlike fentanyl, theres no treatment.Its related to opioids in some way, but it doesn't work through the same receptive that the Narcan reverses, said Dr. Connelly. With St. Patricks Day on Friday, Dr. Connelly shares his plea to patrons preparing to celebrate. You have to be very careful nowadays. Drug use is becoming an increasingly more fatal habit to have, said Connelly.

The Georgia Department of Health is alerting the public about an increase in overdose deaths related to a new drug.

Theres a new, non-opioid making its way around, causing officials to send out a warning ahead of St. Patricks Day.

The more drugs you put into a mix, the more synergistic bad of an outcome you can have, said internal medicine doctor Timothy Connelly.

Dr. Connelly, who works for Memorial Health, explains why xylazine is being called the zombie drug and why its being mixed more frequently now with opioids.

Its a sedative medication that's a powerful muscle relaxer, said Dr. Connelly. It also drops the blood pressure, and it amplifies the narcotic.

According to the Georgia Department of Health, xylazine-involved deaths increased by 1120% from 2020 to 2022 in the state, all involving fentanyl. But, unlike fentanyl, theres no treatment.

Its related to opioids in some way, but it doesn't work through the same receptive that the Narcan reverses, said Dr. Connelly.

With St. Patricks Day on Friday, Dr. Connelly shares his plea to patrons preparing to celebrate.

You have to be very careful nowadays. Drug use is becoming an increasingly more fatal habit to have, said Connelly.

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Georgia officials are warning about an increase in overdose deaths related to new 'zombie drug' - WJCL News Savannah