Change on Hamilton Fights the Tranq Crisis One Life at a Time

WFMZ’s Jaccii Farris takes a hard and compassionate look at the growing xylazine crisis in a special report recently aired on 69 News. Known on the street as “tranq,” xylazine is a veterinary sedative now being mixed with opioids like fentanyl, creating a deadly combination that’s sweeping through communities, including the Lehigh Valley. The report features an emotional and honest conversation with Keith Smith, Director of the Change on Hamilton Recovery Center, and Darryl, a man currently battling addiction. Together, they offer a deeply human perspective on what the opioid epidemic looks like from the inside, and what recovery can mean, even in the darkest moments.

Recovery is never easy, but the story highlights that no one has to face it alone. Change on Hamilton, fully funded by Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, is one of the lifelines offering harm reduction supplies such as Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and xylazine test strips, resources that can literally save lives. This powerful segment not only informs the public about the growing presence and dangers of xylazine, but also champions the community organizations that refuse to give up on people at any stage of substance use. Find out what’s happening at Change on Hamilton: www.changeonhamilton.com.

Here’s the link to the news story – https://www.wfmz.com/news/area/lehighvalley/xylazine-crisis-special-report-by-reporter-jaccii-farris-to-air-on-69-news-at-6/article_27b47c3e-edf4-11ee-aa81-43eb75aee2fd.html

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