By Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News

2 minutes read. Updated 3:00PM GMT Sat, June 8, 2024

A powerful new drug, medetomidine, originally intended as an animal tranquilizer, is now being found in illegal drugs in parts of the United States. This dangerous sedative has been linked to a surge in deadly overdoses in the states of Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan is addressing this growing crisis as medetomidine spreads through the region. The drug is being mixed with opioids like fentanyl to enhance their effects, leading to severe health risks. Medetomidine significantly slows down breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure, making it highly dangerous for humans.

“Drugs Are Becoming Deadlier,” Warns Health Official

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, is alarmed by the rise of such contaminants. “It’s really concerning, the types of contaminants that we are seeing,” she said. “Drugs are becoming deadlier.”

Medetomidine is even more potent than xylazine, another animal sedative that has been problematic in the U.S. for years. The drug was first identified by NPS Discovery, a research organization, in Maryland in July 2022.

Rising Cases Across the U.S.

Medetomidine’s presence is now spreading westward. In Michigan, health officials confirmed that the drug was found in toxicology reports of three unconnected overdose deaths. Recently, Chicago also reported its first cases, where medetomidine was mixed with fentanyl and other substances.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have similarly reported the drug’s arrival, with health alerts indicating that users can remain sedated for at least three hours.

Linda Cottler, Director of the National Drug Early Warning System, warns that reports of medetomidine are likely to increase as it spreads across the country.

For more on this developing story, visit NPS Discovery and National Drug Early Warning System.

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