Animal Sedative Detected In Illegal Drug Supply

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — A sedative used by veterinarians has been detected in the illegal drug supply infiltrating Harford County, causing concern for officials.

The Harford County Health Department first announced the discovery on social media.

Ronya Nassar, director with the county health department, told Patch that medetomidine was initially concentrated in Cecil County between June 2024 and October 2025, and in other parts of the state in starting in July 2022.

But it has recently been identified in the drug supply in several other counties in the state, including in Harford County starting in December 2025, Nassar said.

The Maryland Department of Health’s Behavioral Health Administration identified medetomidine in the illicit drug supply through the Rapid Analysis of Drugs program, led by the Office of Overdose Prevention and Education.

"Metetomidine poses significant health risks due to the extended sedation and severe withdrawal associated with its use. Its appearance in Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) samples (often mixed with fentanyl, anesthetics or other substances) raises concerns about increased risk of respiratory depression, slow heart rate, low blood pressure, profound sedation and overdose," Nassar said.

Medetomidine is a veterinary sedative that is 200 to 300 times stronger than xylazine. In Maryland, medetomidine is most often found in combination with fentanyl, fentanyl analogs and anesthetics, Nassar explained.

"It is unclear how it is being obtained," she told Patch. "Standard doses of naloxone (3 mg or 4 mg) will reverse the effects of opioids that may be present, but naloxone will not counteract medetomidine’s sedative properties, complicating overdose response. A person may remain sedated after one dose of naloxone. Naloxone is successful if a person is breathing evenly. If a person is breathing, they do not need additional doses of naloxone."

Nassar added that individuals should go to the hospital if experiencing severe vomiting, uncontrollable shaking, chest pain, confusion or worse withdrawal symptoms than normal.

Learn how to administer naloxone here.

Discover where to find free naloxone, fentanyl and xylazine test strips here.

If you're looking for an opioid-related disease prevention and outreach program, visit this link. There are 30 authorized OADPOPs in 21 counties in Maryland.