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Deadly Animal Drug Found in Winnipeg Heroin
8 Mar
Summary
- An animal tranquilizer, medetomidine, is appearing in Winnipeg's drug supply.
- This substance is significantly stronger than xylazine and can cause dangerous withdrawal.
- Specialized test strips are now available to detect medetomidine in drugs.
Winnipeg public health officials have issued urgent warnings regarding the detection of medetomidine, a powerful animal tranquilizer, within the city's illicit drug supply. This substance has been identified in heroin samples and poses a significant public health risk due to its extreme potency. Medetomidine is reportedly 200 to 300 times stronger than xylazine, another animal tranquilizer already circulating.
Individuals exposed to medetomidine may experience prolonged sedation and dangerously slowed breathing, along with severe reductions in heart rate. Health experts note that withdrawal from this drug can be extremely dangerous, with reported cases of cardiac arrest and other heart-related complications. The substance has been detected in Canada's drug supply since 2021 and is increasingly found mixed with fentanyl in Winnipeg.
Public health services are advising individuals who witness an overdose involving medetomidine to still administer naloxone, as the samples often contain opioids. For those experiencing withdrawal, emergency room visits are recommended due to the high risk of adverse medical events. Specialized test strips for medetomidine are now being piloted at local health organizations, including Street Connections and Sunshine House, to help drug users identify its presence.
