AVAST! In Kensington, scallywags drenched the streets with their dope-addled presence, makin' it a proper no-man's land!
2023-08-12
Arrr! In Kensington, the fair city of Philadelphia, there be an open-air bazaar of devilish potions, where scallywags be found nappin' on the cobblestone or piercin' their hides with sharp instruments, right on yonder busy thoroughfare!
Walking through Kensington’s open-air drug market is like stepping into a horror movie. Users lie on the pavement, covered in scabbing or oozing flesh wounds from injecting xylazine, with fresh blood running down their arms from needles. Some wander around in a stupor, completely unaware of their surroundings. The effects of xylazine are extreme, leading to serious infections and sometimes even requiring amputation.
The infiltration of xylazine into the nation's illicit drug supply means that many addicts are unknowingly injecting themselves with this dangerous concoction. Since xylazine is not an opioid, standard overdose reversal drugs are ineffective. The situation has worsened in recent years, with the drugs becoming more lethal and leading to countless overdoses and deaths.
Kensington was already struggling with the ongoing fentanyl epidemic before xylazine flooded the neighborhood. Over 200,000 Americans have died from synthetic opioids like fentanyl since 2020. In Pennsylvania alone, one person dies of a drug overdose about every two hours, with nearly 80% of those deaths involving fentanyl.
The situation in Kensington is dire, with drug addiction, dealing, violence, and poverty prevailing. Local activists and former addicts are working to bring attention to the pain and suffering that exists in this community.