BLACKFORD COUNTY, Ind. — According to the CDC, a dangerous, non-opioid sedative called "Xylazine" has infiltrated illegal drug supplies across the country in recent years. Now, the drug is being linked to some overdose deaths in Indiana. Xylazine is intended for use by veterinarians to relax animals. When taken by a human, it can lead to difficulty breathing, slow heart rate, and in two Blackford County cases, death. "I think we will see an uptick in Xylazine being present in our drug toxicology reports after death," said Blackford County Coroner Zach Crouch. “In the bigger cities, I'm sure it's way more prevalent than what it is here in Blackford.”  Crouch said the county saw its second overdose death linked to the Xylazine in early November. The first happened in January 2023. In both cases, he said, the lethal doses were taken while doing heroin that was cut with both fentanyl and Xylazine. "Your dealer is not your friend," Crouch said. "No matter if it's your cousin or the guy down the street, the dealer is not your friend. Seek help." Crouch has been warning his community about the drug, which cannot be reversed by naloxone, and has been called a widespread public safety threat by the DEA. Only this year was Xylazine listed as a controlled substance in Indiana, after a new law criminalized possession by those without a permissible reason, like veterinarians. But State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), who co-authored that bill, says there's still work to be done. "I really still believe that one of the missing pieces to this complex problem that we have in overdoses in our state is to continue to encourage the distribution of test strips," Garcia Wilburn said. While the number of fatal drug overdoses in Indiana has fallen in recent years, officials said education is crucial in preventing more. "I know that there's going to be good work done across the aisle to make sure that there are no barriers to test strips in our state," Garcia Wilburn said. "But really, that is the most evidence-based harm reduction approach to serving people that are needing to reach recovery." If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, you can find resources by calling 211.