What You Need To Know
The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has confirmed an increasing presence of medetomidine in the New Jersey (NJ) illicit opioid/fentanyl supply through various data sources. Medetomidine is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer (alpha-2 agonist) similar to xylazine, but 100-200 times more potent. It is not U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for human consumption. Use of medetomidine can lead to health risks including heavy sedation, confusion, dizziness, a slow heart rate, low blood pressure and can also cause severe and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms when use is discontinued. Potential withdrawal symptoms from medetomidine may include a dangerous increase in heart rate and blood pressure, tremors, nausea and uncontrollable vomiting, sweating and confusion.
The purpose of this health alert is to bring awareness to the prevalence of medetomidine and its health risks to NJ hospitals, healthcare providers, and community-based partners who may encounter patients who have used substances adulterated with medetomidine. Attached to this health alert are two resources with information about medetomidine harm reduction practices and treatment protocols:
- New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition (NJHRC) Medetomidine One-Pager for people who use drugs and harm reduction programs
- Southern New Jersey Medication for Addiction Treatment Center of Excellence (SNJMATCOE) Guidance for Managing Medetomidine Exposure for healthcare providers, including a protocol for treatment of Medetomidine withdrawal
Further, on April 2, 2026, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) distributed an official health advisory on the Health Alert Network (HAN) titled “Medetomidine in the U.S. Illegal Fentanyl Supply Increasing Risk for Overdose and Severe Withdrawal Symptoms”.