VIDEO/PHOTOS: Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers (D) visited La Crosse Tuesday to sign a bill legalizing xylazine testing strips into law.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, there was a 19% increase in opioid related deaths between 2020 and 2022. In recent years, health officials have found the animal tranquilizer xylazine mixed with other opiates.
"While xylazine is not technically an opioid, it's largely found mixed with other opioids like fentanyl," Evers said. "Unlike Narcan for treating fentanyl or other opioid-related overdoses - there is currently no xylazine reversible-agent safe for human use. That means prevention is key."
To do just this, Evers signed the bill that 95th Assembly District Rep. Jill Billings put forth nearly a year ago, into law Tuesday.