AVMA-endorsed xylazine legislation reintroduced in Congress

(WASHINGTON, DC) February 12, 2025—As the new Congress begins and legislative initiatives are renewed, the AVMA’s sustained advocacy has led to the reintroduction of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act in both the House and Senate. Strongly supported by the AVMA, the legislation would provide the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with tools to help address the illicit drug by scheduling xylazine as a Schedule III drug, ensure common veterinary uses of the drug remain legal, help maintain the availability of the drug on the market for veterinarians, and allow the DEA to track the legitimate supply.

In veterinary medicine, xylazine is an important prescription sedative used to facilitate the safe handling and treatment of many species and is particularly important for use in cattle, horses, wildlife, and research species. However, Illicit xylazine has now been found across the country mixed with fentanyl and other narcotics. This dangerous drug combination poses significant health and safety risks to human users.

Only Congress can make the statutory changes necessary to help preserve the availability of this prescription animal drug for its critical uses in veterinary medicine as a controlled drug. Scheduling xylazine without statutory changes by Congress for its unique needs in veterinary medicine will severely disrupt or eliminate the legitimate supply and prohibit critical uses of the drug.

The bill also would provide the DEA with transparency into the legitimate drug marketplace by requiring manufacturers and distributors to report inventory and sales to the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS).

“The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act strikes the right balance of helping address the public health threat of illicit xylazine while maintaining veterinary access to this critical animal sedative,” said Dr. Sandra Faeh, AVMA President. “Strongly endorsed by the AVMA, this legislation is essential to protecting our communities from the grave health and safety risks of illicit xylazine, upholding animal welfare, supporting public health, and ensuring our nation’s veterinarians are equipped with all the necessary resources to provide high-quality veterinary care. We greatly appreciate Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Chuck Grassley and Representatives Jimmy Panetta and August Pfluger for their leadership on this increasingly important issue. The AVMA looks forward to working with Congress on getting this well-balanced approach enacted into law.”

Sens. Cortez Masto and Grassley and Reps. Pfluger and Panetta issued the following statements:

“Xylazine poses a growing threat across the Silver State, and our law enforcement officers simply don’t have the tools they need to keep our communities safe from this dangerous drug,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “My bipartisan, bicameral bill would crack down on the illegal use of xylazine while protecting its legitimate use by veterinarians and ranchers. It’s time for Congress to act now and pass this life-saving legislation.”

“Illicit xylazine is contributing to the national drug epidemic and driving up overdose deaths in communities across the country. Our nation’s laws must keep pace with emerging drug trends,” said Senator Grassley. “This bipartisan bill recognizes the lethal threat of xylazine and provides law enforcement new tools to combat its spread while ensuring veterinarians, ranchers, and cattlemen can continue to access the drug for legitimate animal treatment.”

“Illicit xylazine is exacerbating the deadly fentanyl crisis and devastating our communities,” said Representative Panetta. “The bipartisan Combating Illicit Xylazine Act is how we fight back, giving law enforcement the tools to crack down on traffickers while ensuring that veterinarians, farmers, and ranchers can continue using this medication responsibly. With strong bipartisan and bicameral support, we are pushing for urgent action to stop this dangerous drug and save more lives.”

“Our country is facing a drug epidemic that has devasted families and communities across America. We must crack down on deadly drugs being flooded into our communities, especially given that drug traffickers are turning to Xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer, to make drugs more addictive—and more deadly,” said Representative Pfluger. “I am proud to work with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to crack down on illicit uses of Xylazine while protecting its critical purpose in agriculture and veterinary medicine.”