Xylazine (commonly called “tranq”) was increasingly found in the unregulated drug supply, leading to overdoses and severe wounds that were poorly understood.

There was a lack of accessible, trustworthy, and engaging materials for people most impacted. We needed a resource that was:

• Easy to understand regardless of reading level

• Visual and multilingual

• Distributable through nontraditional networks (e.g. mutual aid, corner stores, street outreach)

• Researched best practices in overdose response, xylazine withdrawal, and wound care

• Interviewed and collaborated with harm reduction specialists and community members

• Designed the zine in English, then coordinated translation into other languages based on neighborhood demographics

• Used plain language, high contrast visuals, and illustrated step-by-step guidance for key skills like rescue breathing

• Designed it for easy folding, duplication, and street distribution

A pocket-sized, illustrated, and multilingual zine that covers:

• What xylazine is and how to identify its presence

• Overdose response steps (including visuals of rescue breathing and recovery position)

• Info on withdrawal

• Step-by-step wound care guidance

• Local resources for supplies, testing, and support

• The zine was distributed across Philadelphia via harm reduction teams, community partners, and trusted local business owners

• Translated versions were shared in targeted neighborhoods with high overdose rates

• Used as a tool in outreach, workshops, and at community events

• Ground teams reported positive anecdotal feedback: community members were using and re-sharing the zines

If more time and funding were available, I’d love to:

• Create a digital version for mobile sharing

• Expand accessibility features (e.g. audio or large print versions)

• Pair the zine with video demos or workshops on wound care

• Incorporate lived-experience voices more deeply in early stages of content creation