New dangerous drug hits the streets

“It’s a really, really strong veterinary tranquilizer. It’s about 200 times as strong as xylene. So it’s really, really, really potent. It’s causing a lot of people to be heavily sedated over long periods of time. And it also can cause behavior changes… irritability, anger. I think it has a lot to do with the rise in violence that we see in town. And withdrawal can be deadly.”

Wells says the drug’s effects go beyond sedation. She notes it can significantly alter a person’s behaviour, potentially contributing to increased instability and risk in the community.

Health officials say that concern is backed up by what they are seeing on the ground.

Dr. Alexis Crabtree with the B.C. Centre for Disease Control says paramedics are responding to a growing number of overdoses, including in the Northern Health region—numbers not seen in several years.

“It is dangerous. It has real health impacts for people, and we’re seeing that in the numbers in Northern Health. We’re seeing an increase in paramedic attended overdoses… and we think that it’s medetomidine that’s causing this.”

Crabtree says this trend is alarming—not only because of the increase in overdoses, but because of how this drug behaves differently from more familiar substances.

Medetomidine is not an opioid. Instead, it’s a veterinary tranquilizer designed for use in animals. When mixed with opioids or other street drugs, it can intensify sedation and complicate treatment.

One of the biggest challenges for emergency responders is that the standard overdose treatment—naloxone—does not reverse the sedative effects of medetomidine.

“Naloxone is safe to give. It should be given any time an opioid overdose is suspected… it will restore breathing. But if medetomidine is part of the picture, the person won’t wake up.”

That means someone may start breathing again after naloxone is administered, but remain unconscious for an extended period, placing additional pressure on emergency services and requiring continued monitoring.

Wells says the risks extend even further when it comes to withdrawal.

Because medetomidine acts as a powerful sedative, the body can become dependent on it—and coming off the drug too quickly can be life-threatening.

“The problem with tranquilizers is that the withdrawal is so dangerous. Even if there was something like naloxone that worked for medetomidine, we wouldn’t be able to use it safely… a fast withdrawal could cause seizures and it can literally kill people.”

This creates a complicated and dangerous situation for both users and the healthcare system. Traditional overdose responses may not be enough, and medical professionals must carefully manage both immediate symptoms and long-term risks.

Health officials are now urging caution and awareness as the drug continues to circulate.

They stress that naloxone should still be used when an overdose is suspected, especially since opioids are often involved. But they warn that bystanders and responders should be prepared for the possibility that the person may not regain consciousness right away.

For now, outreach teams and healthcare workers are working to educate the public and adapt their response strategies as they learn more about this emerging threat.

Wells says the key message is awareness—understanding that the drug landscape is changing, and with it, the risks are evolving.

As medetomidine continues to appear in the local supply, officials say staying informed and prepared could help save lives.

by Cheryl Jahn

New dangerous drug hits the streets

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