Xylazine would be designated a schedule III depressant controlled substance under legislation proposed Wednesday by Democratic state Sen. James Skoufis. 

The measure is meant to address the growing concerns over the use of xylazine, a sedative administered to horses, amid the ongoing overdose and opioid epidemic across the country. 

The drug has been found to be mixed with heroin and fentanyl and has been blamed for a rash of overdose deaths in parts of U.S., including New York City and Philadelphia. Naloxone, used to treat overdose-related symptoms, has not been effective in counteracting the effects of xylazine.

“Xylazine has been wreaking havoc in cities across the country and law enforcement are seeing the drug take hold in New York,” Skoufis said. “We must act quickly to prevent the heroine and fentanyl epidemic from becoming much, much worse. Addiction plagues each of our communities, but the ghastly effects of xylazine don’t have to. I’m eager to work with our partners in law enforcement to give them the tools they need to keep this dangerous sedative out of our neighborhoods and protect those living with addiction.”

New York has seen a sharp rise in the number of overdose deaths in the last several years, a rise that has coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.