Free Republic

The illicit drug market is facing a dangerous new shift as Medetomidine, a potent veterinary sedative, is now frequently replacing Xylazine in street drugs. This combination, primarily mixed with fentanyl, dramatically increases the risk of overdose, complicates emergency reversals, and poses severe challenges to public health officials who must adapt quickly to this evolving and deadly crisis. Story Highlights Medetomidine, a potent animal sedative, replaces xylazine in street drugs. The shift exacerbates fentanyl overdoses, complicating reversals and withdrawals. Enforcement pressures lead traffickers to find new, deadlier drug combinations. Public health specialists warn of unpredictable consequences. Medetomidine’s Rise in the Illicit...

There’s a new beast on the streets — and it’s nothing to bark at. A powerful animal tranquilizer is increasingly saturating the US drug supply, fueling mass overdose outbreaks in hot spots like Chicago and Philadelphia. It was detected in New York last year, setting off alarm bells among public health officials. They warn that while its effects can mimic opioids such as fentanyl, there’s a dangerous catch: It doesn’t respond to conventional overdose-reversal treatments. The drug, medetomidine, is a sedative used by veterinarians to relax muscles and relieve pain, often during surgery. It works by slowing the release of...

The drug was first detected in illegally manufactured opioids in North America in 2022The animal sedative medetomidine is increasingly showing up in the U.S. illegal drug supply, according to three reports released Thursday. Medetomidineopens in a new tab or window, which is used to sedate pets and is somewhat similar to xylazineopens in a new tab or window, was first detected in illegally manufactured opioids in North America in 2022. Investigators say the drug is being mixed in with other illicit drugs, mainly fentanylopens in a new tab or window, the synthetic opioid behind most overdose deaths. On Thursday, the...