New York State Department of Health Issues Public Health Alert for Medetomidine Detected In Drug Samples In Schenectady and Syracuse

Medetomidine is a High-Potency Synthetic Sedative Used in Veterinary Medicine

Health Department Has Issued a Public Health Alert to Community and Public Safety Partners

ALBANY, N.Y. (June 21, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health issued a Public Health Alert after the Department's Drug Checking Program community partners, ACR Health and Catholic Charities, detected a dangerous mix of substances in Central New York and the Capital Region.

The programs identified two samples, and the laboratory confirmed that they contained medetomidine,a high-potency synthetic sedative used in veterinary medicine that is more potent in the central nervous system than xylazine. The Public Health Alert was issued to community and public safety partners in Schenectady and Syracuse.

"Medetomidine impacts the central nervous system and is extremely dangerous when combined with other substances, which is why we're sharing this public health alert," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "The State Health Department and our Drug Checking Program remain committed to preventing overdoses and ensuring the safety of New Yorkers."

A sample was collected in Schenectady on May 24. Compounds in the sample included a combination of fentanyl, medetomidine,and caffeine.

The second sample was collected in Syracuse on June 5. The sample is suspected to be linked to two non-fatal drug overdoses.

The State Department of Health's community drug-checking programs remain vital to identifying potentially harmful substances in the unregulated drug supply.

Community Drug Checking Programs are a vital harm reduction resource and public health tool that allows for the rapid identification of emergent substances that in the past would only have been identified in post-mortem toxicology testing.

More information on the State Department of Health Community Drug Checking Program and how to access drug-checking services can be found here.