New York State Warns of Dangerous Synthetic Sedative Detected in Drug Samples
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) has issued a public health alert after detecting medetomidine, a high-potency synthetic sedative used in veterinary medicine, in two drug samples collected from Schenectady and Syracuse.
Medetomidine is more potent than xylazine and impacts the central nervous system when combined with other substances. The first sample was identified on May 24, 2024, in Schenectady with compounds including fentanyl, medetomidine, and caffeine. The second sample was collected in Syracuse on June 5 and is suspected to be linked to two non-fatal drug overdoses.
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued the alert due to the potential danger of medetomidine when combined with other substances, particularly fentanyl. The DOH urges community and public safety partners in Schenectady and Syracuse to be aware of this new threat.
Medetomidine is not responsive to naloxone, so emergency systems should administer it as soon as possible if an overdose is suspected. More information on the State Department of Health Community Drug Checking Program and how to access drug-checking services can be found here.
This marks the second public health alert issued by the DOH in two weeks regarding new synthetic drugs detected in Syracuse's street drug supply. The first alert was for carfentanil, a more potent opioid than traditional fentanyl, found in a street mixture labeled 'Super Mario.'
Medetomidine has only been widely identified in the nationwide street market for a few months and is believed to be mixed with fentanyl for a stronger high. The drug had been found in recent months in bigger cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Chicago.
The DOH's community drug-checking programs remain vital to identifying potentially harmful substances in the unregulated drug supply. These programs are a harm reduction resource and public health tool that allows for the rapid identification of emergent substances that would otherwise only be identified in post-mortem toxicology testing.
