28 May 2023 , 13:57
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The sister of the first British victim of a flesh-eating drug has issued a stark warning over the "evil killer" that she fears could take more lives around the UK.
Karl Warburton, 43, died last May due to acute aspiration pneumonitis, a condition often caused by inhaling toxins, a coroner ruled this week.
Xylazine, a powerful sedative usually used by vets on large animals such as horses and cows, was listed on his death certificate as contributing to his demise.
In the US, xylazine has caused an epidemic as it makes the skin and muscle rot away if mixed with illegal drugs such as heroin and fentanyl.
Xylazine makes the skin and muscle rot away if mixed with illegal drugs (CBS NEWS)Mr Warburton's death was announced in the Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine from King's College London (KCL), which said he overdosed on a mix of xylazine, heroin, fentanyl and cocaine in May 2022.
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The man died at home in the West Midlands after taking heroin laced with xylazine, which is commonly spread in the US, where it is known as a "tranq dope".
Now, his older sister Diane Warburton, 48, has spoken about her fears that xylazine could cause even more deaths around the UK.
The mother-of-three told Mail Online: "It doesn't bear thinking about, this xylazine is a killer. It's evil stuff.
"There is a big problem with drugs in Birmingham and in the Midlands, as there is across the country, and this new drug, now here from America, will make the issue much worse.
"The thing is when you get as low as Karl did, you don't really care what you're putting into your body as long as it numbs you."
According to the woman, her brother was not aware of what he took before he died, as she thinks he knew nothing about xylazine.
People gather on a street overtaken by heroin users in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Getty Images)She added that drug dealers "don't care" about what they give people and what they mix heroin with, as all they worry about is maximising their profits.
Ms Warburton said she would not want any other family to go through what hers is going through and added that the sale of xylazine should be stopped before it is too late.
Dr Caroline Copeland, senior author from KCL and director of the National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths, said authorities do not know how widespread xylazine is in the UK as it is not included in standard drug screenings.
She said: "This is a really concerning drug that hasn’t been detected in the UK before.
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"This person was likely to have bought heroin and not known it was laced with xylazine and fentanyl."
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the drug is prevalent in 7% of overdoses across the US.
Those who overdose on xylazine do not respond to any known antidote, according to an FDA warning.
Declaring a "widespread threat", DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said: "Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier.
"DEA has seized xylazine and fentanyl mixtures in 48 of 50 states."