Medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, is found in unexpected locations...
In a chilling turn of events, the veterinary sedative, medetomidine, is making its unwelcome debut in the U.S. black market drug supply, according to three disturbing reports unveiled on Thursday.
Medetomidine, known for its use in calming pets, shares some similarities with xylazine, another animal sedative. Initial detections of this drug occurred in illicitly manufactured opioids in North America back in 2022. Law enforcers have reason to believe that the drug is being blended with other unlawful substances, particularly fentanyl, the synthetic opioid responsible for the majority of overdose fatalities.
On this fateful day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed three reports providing insights into recent medetomidine cases in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
In a baffling episode that unfolded in Chicago last May, doctors grappled with a spike in apparent overdoses. The victims had consumed fentanyl, but the commonly used overdose antidote, naloxone, seemed ineffective. After a thorough investigation, the city's health department declared 12 confirmed cases of overdoses linked to medetomidine - the highest documented cluster to date - and over 160 probable or suspected cases, including a potential fatality.
Meanwhile, the reports from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh delved into medetomidine withdrawal encountered in patients.
In Philadelphia, medetomidine was detected in a staggering 72% of illegal opioid samples tested towards the end of 2023, surpassing xylazine's presence. The health authorities in the city reported over 160 hospitalizations due to an unusual version of fentanyl withdrawal that proved resistant to medication typically administered for fentanyl and xylazine. However, another drug - dexmedetomidine - showed some success in addressing the withdrawal symptoms.
Pittsburgh reported a similar number of cases during a similar time frame.
It is important to note that the Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
The alarming emergence of medetomidine in the U.S. drug supply emphasizes the rapid and unsettling evolution of adulterants in a struggle that is far from over. Healthcare providers are encouraged to include medetomidine in routine drug screenings, review patient histories for dexmedetomidine, and link patients to evidence-based addiction treatment.
- Healthcare providers are recommended to incorporate medetomidine into routine drug screenings, given its unwanted presence in the U.S. illicit drug scene.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed three reports detailing recent medetomidine cases in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
- In Chicago, a spike in apparent overdoses linked to medetomidine was reported last May, with 12 confirmed cases and over 160 probable or suspected cases, including a potential fatality.
- Philadelphia health authorities reported over 160 hospitalizations due to an unusual fentanyl withdrawal that was resistant to medication, with medetomidine detected in 72% of illegal opioid samples tested towards the end of 2023.
- Pittsburgh reported a similar number of cases during a similar time frame.
- The Associated Press Health and Science Department, supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reported on these developments.
- Medical professionals are advised to review patient histories for dexmedetomidine and link patients to evidence-based addiction treatment.
