State warns of medetomidine, veterinary drug identified in DO deaths

PRESS RELEASE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is warning Michigan residents about medetomidine, a new drug identified in drug overdose deaths.

Medetomidine is a veterinary tranquilizer, similar to xylazine, that can cause side effects including slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, and decreased brain and spinal cord activity. It is not approved for use in humans.

According to data provided by the Swift Toxicology of Opioid Related Mortalities (STORM) Project at the Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine at Western Michigan University, since March, three overdose deaths have been identified by medetomidine during post-toxicology testing. mortem. The deaths occurred in Ingham, Berrien and Wayne counties. In addition to medetomidine, testing also identified fentanyl and other powerful manufactured drugs.

MDHHS is particularly concerned about this drug for the following reasons:

• Medetomidine can cause central nervous system depression and death.
• Like xylazine, medetomidine is not reversed by drugs such as naloxone or Narcan.
• Unlike xylazine, test strips are not yet available to detect this particular drug.

“Medetomidine is considered more potent than xylazine and we want to make sure Michigan residents are aware of this dangerous new drug that is showing up in overdose deaths in our state,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, medical director. “Although naloxone does not directly reverse the effects of medetomidine or xylazine, these tranquilizers are usually combined with opioid medications like fentanyl, which can be reversed. For this reason, we continue to urge people who use drugs and their loved ones to carry naloxone to avoid an overdose.

MDHHS urges local substance use disorder organizations, health care providers, and harm reduction agencies to take the following actions:

• Raise awareness and promote harm reduction practices – medetomidine, like xylazine, may be increasingly present in the illicit drug supply. Use harm reduction strategies to reduce the risk of overdose: go slowly, use less, carry naloxone, don't take it alone, watch your breathing, etc.
• As with xylazine, administer insufflations in cases of respiratory depression.

  • “When giving rescue breaths to adults, make sure the person's airway is clear; place one hand on the person's chin, tilt the head back and pinch the nose closed. Place your mouth over the person's mouth to make a joint and slowly inhale twice. Monitor the person's chest (but not stomach) for heaving and follow up with breathing every 5 seconds” (What You Need to Know About Xylazine | Drug Overdose | CDC Injury Center).

• Distribute naloxone as well as fentanyl and xylazine test strips – Organizations can request free naloxone from MDHHS to increase capacity. Connect people to more ways to access naloxone: order online at nextdistro.org/Michigan and get free delivery; get it at the pharmacy (standing prescription for naloxone, without a prescription); or contact a syringe service program to obtain naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips, sterile needles, HIV and hepatitis C tests and other vital resources.
• Explore the Substance Use Vulnerability Index on the MDHHS Dashboard to start conversations about gaps and barriers that may exist in your community.

MDHHS will continue to monitor STORM and other rapid data sources and share information as it becomes available. Agencies aware of any overdose or exposure to medetomidine since January 2024 are asked to share this information to (email protected).

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