Surrey/Fraser Valley – ***Toxic Drug Advisory – Fraser Health Region – Nov 28, 2025***
Medetomidine is increasingly being detected in the unregulated opioid supply across Fraser Health communities.
Medetomidine is a potent non-opioid sedative used in veterinary medicine. It is similar to xylazine (“tranq”) but approximately 200 times more potent. Naloxone does not reverse the effects of medetomidine. It should still always be administered in suspected opioid poisonings. Be prepared for prolonged sedation and the need for continuous airway support and monitoring. Medetomidine withdrawal can lead to severe symptoms, most notably a rapid heart rate and dangerously high blood pressure.
Friends, family, and community members using unregulated substances may face increased harms of unknowingly taking different substances than intended.
