A powerful animal tranquilizer, medetomidine, has been spotted on the streets of Western Pennsylvania, prompting concerns from local addiction specialists. The drug is not approved for human use and poses a serious risk due to its inability to be reversed with Narcan.
Medetomidine can cause severe withdrawal symptoms, drastically lowering heart rate, slowing breathing, and dropping blood pressure for hours. Its potency is particularly concerning, as it’s commonly used to sedate horses that weigh several hundred pounds more than humans.
Health officials are warning residents of the dangers associated with medetomidine, emphasizing the need for caution and awareness in this matter.
Source: https://www.wccsradio.com/2025/08/25/experts-say-dangerous-animal-tranquilizer-being-used-across-western-pa