Dangerous Drug Mixture Warning Issued by Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center

The Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center (ONIC) on Thursday released a public safety bulletin alerting Ohioans to an increasing number of illicit drug samples found to contain mixtures of powerful drugs that can cause overdoses and/or skin wounds.

ONIC reported that drug testing labs across Ohio recorded an eight-fold increase in drug samples containing mixtures of “tranq-dope” (opioids and sedatives) and more than double the number of samples containing mixtures of “benzo-dope” (opioids and benzodiazepines) between 2021 and 2023 as compared to the three years prior. These drug mixtures have been identified in several forms, including counterfeit pills, powder, and rocks.

Sedatives and benzodiazepines are depressants that produce sedation and muscle relaxation while also lowering heart rate and blood pressure. Opioids such as fentanyl cause significant respiratory depression, which often is the primary cause of death in opioid-related drug poisoning cases.

Common drugs often mixed with tranq-dope or benzo-dope in Ohio include:

• Opioids such as fentanyl/fentanyl analogues, heroin, nitazenes, and oxycodone.
• Sedatives such as xylazine, medetomidine, ketamine, and detomidine.
• Benzodiazepines such as bromazolam, alprazolam, clonazepam, and flualprazolam.