By Austin Goss, South Dakota Broadcasters Association.
A joint effort between the state’s Department of Health and the Attorney General to ban Xylazine received the total endorsement of the State House Wednesday (Jan. 17, 2024).
Lawmakers in the lower chamber voted unanimously to send the legislation to the Senate, which would add the drug called the “zombie drug” to the list of Schedule III controlled substances in the state, and define permissible uses for the drug.
Currently, there are no laws on the book regulating the drug, most commonly used to calm or treat animals prior to a surgery.
“When I first heard about this bill I had some concerns,” said Rep. Gary Cammack, a rancher from Union Center. “It works really well for those things with animals, like surgical procedures.”
But when consumed by humans, the drug can have devastating effects, like causing flesh to rot. Additionally, common drug treatment methods like Narcan are not effective against Xylazine.
South Dakota was one of the last states in the country to experience positive tests for the drug, but has since had one positive case in the drug last year.
“The Xylazine has been identified by the state lab as having been in the state and having been used,” Cammack continued. “This is a serious issue.”
The legislation was made a priority of Attorney General Marty Jackley coming into session. Other priorities of Jackley’s include changes to the state’s sex offender list, a proposal to change who can be appointed to the Open Meetings Commission, and legislation that would crack down on the possession of AI generated child pornography.
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