The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said Monday that authorities seized fentanyl mixed with a pharmaceutical drug used to sedate animals in 48 states, warning the American public of a widespread threat.

Authorities said in a public safety alert that the agency confiscated Xylazine, also known as “tranq,” and fentanyl mixtures, which could cause severe wounds, including necrosis that may lead to amputation.

“Xylazine is making the deadliest drug threat our country has ever faced, fentanyl, even deadlier,” Administrator Anne Milgram said in a news release.

Milgram said the DEA Laboratory System reported approximately 23% of fentanyl powder and 7% of fentanyl pills seized by the DEA contained Xylazine in 2022.

The National Institute of Drug Abuse labels Xylazine as a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer that has been linked to the increasing number of overdose deaths nationwide.

“Research has shown Xylazine is often added to illicit opioids, including fentanyl, and people report using xylazine-containing fentanyl to lengthen its euphoric effects,” the institute’s website reads. “Most overdose deaths linked to both xylazine and fentanyl also involved additional substances, including cocaine, heroin, benzodiazepines, alcohol, gabapentin, methadone, and prescription opioids.”

Between 2015 and 2020, the Northeastern region of the U.S. saw the largest impact from overdose deaths involving Xylazine, with Pennsylvania increasing from 2% of overdose deaths nearly 26%. Maryland reported 19% of all drug overdoses in 2021 involved Xylazine, and 10% in Connecticut in 2020.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 107,735 Americans died between August 2021 and August 2022 from drug poisonings, with 66% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the news release.

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Authorities said experts always recommend administering naloxone if someone might be overdosing on drugs, although Narcan does not reverse effects on non-opioids.

DEA authorities blamed the vast majority of fentanyl trafficked into the United States on the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco Cartel in Mexico, which primarily source the chemicals from China.

The federal agency’s latest public safety announcement comes nearly two years after its last one when authorities warned the public about increases in the lethality and availability of fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills, which was further updated to say that six out of ten fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

Kirk Cameron reacted to his faith-based story hour being interrupted by Drag Queens and activists, noting the irony that the group that pushes “inclusion and tolerance” tried to ruin things — but he insisted they would not succeed.

The 52-year-old actor appeared recently at the Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, Arkansas, where more than 500 parents and kids showed up to hear Cameron read his new book from Brave Books — “As You Grow ” — and “Elephants Are Not Birds” read by de-transitioner Laura Perry Smalts.

Cameron spoke to The Daily Wire on Monday about how these parents had showed up and the “eye-sore of the event was these creepy, scary men in black and white dresses and heels and veils … blocking families’ views and holding up scary signs … and really upsetting the families that were there.”

Photo Credit: Joshua Smith

“So, for the group that’s all about inclusion and tolerance, they sure are hell bent on excluding families … and really want to crash the party,” the actor explained. “They were accusing us of scaring children with our books, but they just looked scary. It was really weird and creeping everyone out. ”

“We had to increase security because of the threats [at this event in particular] that were communicated and we want to make sure that kids are not a part of any sort of dangerous protest,” he added.

The “Growing Pains” star said this event wasn’t the only one were they have been notified ahead of time about a security threat to parents coming out with their kids to hear this book about love, kindness, family, and faith.

“There have been others the publisher has received for other story hours,” Cameron said.

Photo Credit: Joshua Smith

Several of the protestors have shared photos from the day, with at least one offering instructions on how to protest future Cameron story hour events.

Art Protest Leader Simone Cottrell shared on Facebook a photo posing outside the library like a statue with a sign that read, “Where is Justice” and showing a children’s book that deals with sex.

Pro-LGBTQ Pastor Clint Snekloth shared tips for “protesters at future Kirk Cameron book readings” warning them the event “will be triggering” and suggesting kids who were there with their parents are “currently in the cult.”

When pressed by the Daily Wire on what Cameron would like to say to those upset about his events or are planning to upset future ones,” the “Lifemark” star said that they would not stop him and Brave Books from hosting these story hours.

“An arthritic flea could more reasonably stop a stampede of wild elephants running to a mud bath, than a few sad, misguided individuals can stop the tidal wave of good families streaming in to join our fun, faith-filled, wholesome and patriotic Brave Books Story Hours,” Cameron said. “Early RSVP’s are in: Party-poopers will be outnumbered 100 to 1. See you at the library!”