House clears Meltzer's bill targeting illicit use of animal tranquilizer

Under Meltzer's legislation, a prescription would be required to possess xylazine, a large animal sedative known as "tranq," or an individual could face criminal penalties.   

"Xylazine is being mixed with illicit drugs like heroin, and users can experience horrible side effects and potentially long-lasting consequences," said Meltzer (R-Shelbyville), vice chair of the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee. "Our goal is to give law enforcement a new tool to get this drug off our streets and hold bad actors accountable while also protecting the drug's veterinary uses."

House Bill 1203 makes possession of xylazine a Class A misdemeanour or a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction. Exceptions would include federally approved people who dispense, prescribe, or administer a drug containing xylazine, those who manufacture, distribute, or use xylazine as an active ingredient for animal drugs; licenced pharmacists and veterinarians; and other federally approved persons.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, xylazine is a central nervous system depressant that can cause drowsiness and amnesia, and slow breathing, heart rate and blood pressure to dangerously low levels. Repeated xylazine use is also associated with skin ulcers, abscesses and related complications. Since xylazine is not an opiate, overdose reversal medication like Narcan is less effective, increasing the chance of permanent injury or death.

Additionally, Meltzer co-authored a bill to legalize drug testing strips also advanced out of the House of Representatives. House Bill 1053 would remove the tests from being categorized as drug paraphernalia. For example, Meltzer said drug users could use the strips to test any substance for xylazine, fentanyl or other potentially fatal substances.

During the 2023 legislative session, Meltzer authored a new law that tasks coroners with testing for any trace of xylazine in suspected and known drug overdose deaths. This includes if the victim was resistant to reversal medications. She said the data gathered from these reports will help Indiana get a clearer picture of the drug's presence in the state and begin to form an action plan.

House Bill 1203 now heads to the Indiana Senate for consideration. To learn more about the bill and other legislation, visit iga.in.gov.