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Mass. working group weighs oversight of xylazine; DPH warns against straight scheduling
Summary
A state working group heard Department of Public Health testimony opposing immediate scheduling of xylazine, urged better data collection on sources and prevalence, and split into subgroups to prepare findings and a Dec. 11 presentation for the commission.
BOSTON — Members of a Massachusetts legislative working group met to discuss oversight, regulation and the possible scheduling of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer increasingly detected in the illicit drug supply.
Jess Bressler, commission staff and legal counsel to the House chair of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, opened the session and outlined the group's charge: investigate best practices to regulate production and distribution of xylazine, whether it should be classified as a controlled substance, and what penalties — if any — would be appropriate. "This working group is charged with investigating and producing findings and recommendations, firstly, on best practices to regulate and oversee the production and distribution of xylazine," Bressler said.
Sarah Ruiz, deputy director of the Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Addiction Services, told the group the…
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