The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has flagged a new and dangerous trend in illicit drug mixtures. The DEA State and Territory Report on Enduring and Emerging Threats says that medetomidine and dexmedetomidine laboratory submissions are increasing significantly.
Medetomidine is an analgesic used in veterinary medicine, while dexmedetomidine is an analgesic used in both human and veterinary medicine. The DEA says that both drugs are being misused in ways that increase overdose risk.
Both drugs share similarities with xylazine, another veterinary sedative that has been found mixed with illicit opioids like fentanyl, leading to heightened overdose dangers. If xylazine were to be regulated under the Controlled Substances Act, the DEA cautions that medetomidine and dexmedetomidine could become more accessible alternatives for mixing with opioids.
The DEA first detected traces of these drugs in the illicit drug supply in 2021, and since then, submissions containing medetomidine and dexmedetomidine have increased. Officials say this rise may reflect shifts in traffickers’ practices or more rigorous lab testing. The drugs have been found mixed with various substances, including marijuana, counterfeit pills, and drug paraphernalia, highlighting an emerging risk in the evolving landscape of synthetic drug threats.
The DEA says that China, India and the U.S. are the top three exporters of medetomidine and dexmedetomidine, while the U.S., India and Chile are the top importers.