Table 2.

Survey responses on xylazine use and perceptions (n = 49)

	Number of participants
Have you heard of xylazine, or ‘Tranq’? n (%)
Yes  No	45 (91.8) 4 (8.2)
Xylazine works the same way in the brain and body as an opioid does n (%)
Yes  No  I don’t know	17 (34.7) 15 (30.6) 17 (34.7)
Xylazine can cause severe skin ulcerations or lesions that can diffuse throughout the body n (%)
Yes  No  I don’t know	38 (77.6) 1 (2.0) 10 (20.4)
What percentage of drugs that you use contain xylazine? n (%)
All  Over half  Most (< 50%)  Some  None  I don’t know	5 (10.2) 8 (16.3) 7 (14.3) 6 (12.2) 4 (8.2) 19 (38.8)
How often have you used xylazine? n (%)
Daily  1–6 times per week  1–4 times per month  A few times a year  Never  I don’t know	12 (24.5) 5 (10.2) 2 (4.1) 3 (6.1) 14 (28.6) 13 (26.5)
How often do you try to get drugs with xylazine? n %
Every time you get drugs  Most of the time  Sometimes  Rarely  Never	5 (10.2) 1 (2.0) 4 (8.2) 7 (14.3) 32 (65.3)
Have you ever heard of a xylazine test strip (a thin piece of plastic that can be dipped in the drug sample) that you can use to see if xylazine is in a batch of drugs before you use? n (%)
Yes  No	26 (53.1) 23 (46.9)
Exposure to xylazine is common among people who use heroin and fentanyl n (%)
Strongly agree  Agree  Neither agree nor disagree  Disagree  Strongly disagree	30 (61.2) 12 (24.5) 6 (12.2) 1 (2.0) 0 (0)
Exposure to xylazine increases my risk for overdose n (%)
Strongly agree  Agree  Neither agree nor disagree  Disagree  Strongly disagree	27 (55.1) 9 (18.4) 10 (20.4) 2 (4.1) 1 (2.0)
I am confident in my ability to detect xylazine when using drugs n (%)
Strongly agree  Agree  Neither agree nor disagree  Disagree  Strongly disagree	8 (16.3) 8 (16.3) 13 (26.5) 8 (16.3) 12 (24.5)
I am more likely to use a batch of drugs if I know it contains xylazine n (%)
Strongly agree  Agree  Neither agree nor disagree  Disagree  Strongly disagree	3 (6.1) 3 (6.1) 16 (32.7) 9 (18.4) 18 (36.7)
If you identified xylazine, or were told that a batch of drugs you purchased contained xylazine, what would you do? n (%)
Use the drug as I normally would  Use less drug than usual  Perform a test shot or dose  Change route of administration  Throw away the drug	15 (30.6) 11 (22.4) 3 (6.1) 2 (4.1) 18 (36.7)