Animal sedative medetomidine has appeared in the US illicit drug supply, with cases reported in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), medetomidine is being mixed with other opioids, particularly fentanyl. In Chicago, 12 confirmed cases of medetomidine-related overdose were reported, while in Philadelphia, medetomidine was detected in over 70% of opioid samples tested. The CDC has linked a rare form of withdrawal to hospitalizations due to medetomidine exposure. Medical professionals are now exploring alternative treatments using dexmedetomidine to combat this emerging crisis.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/cdc-animal-sedative-medetomidine-40e02b935d1c37189da4b9cd6ccd3210