New ‘zombie drug’ discovered alongside fentanyl causing overdoses

Natasha Zouves and Urja Sinha

1 day ago

(NewsNation) – Authorities are sounding the alarm about a new “zombie drug,” 100 times more powerful than xylazine, causing overdose deaths in nine states across the country.

What is medetomidine?

Medetomidine, a designer drug used as an animal tranquilizer, is the latest illicit drug to emerge alongside fentanyl. According to the researchers, this would cause “increased sedation” and “profound bradycardia,” or a slowing of the heart rate.

Medetomidine has been regularly found in illicit drug ‘products’, alongside fentanyl, heroin and xylazine – another tranquilizer commonly found in illicit drugs – following a recent overdose epidemic in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chicago, according to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education. CFRE).

What does “zombie drug” look like?

This dangerous drug can give users a more powerful effect, but high doses can cause the heart to slow and fail, leading to sudden cardiac arrest. Additionally, experts warn that the anti-overdose drug naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, may not be effective in reversing a medetomidine overdose.

“Right now, we don’t have a drug to reverse an alpha agonist, which is the type of drug that these sedatives are. You would like to provide artificial respiration. The most important thing is to call 911,” addiction specialist Dr. James Besante told NewsNation.

Besante says that even though Narcan cannot reverse a medetomidine overdose because it is not an opioid, it should still be given to someone having an overdose.

Where does medetomidine spread?

Drugs are making things worse in places like Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, home to one of the largest open-air drug markets in the United States.

Medetomidine was first reported in Maryland in late 2022 and has now been reported in at least nine states in the United States and Canada.

While many are calling it the new “zombie drug” because it is a more potent version of xylazine, Besante urges people not to dehumanize drug users.

“These are individuals who live with a family. Most of the clients I deal with on a daily basis are incredible people. This drug does not make them “zombies”. These are humans with a chronic illness, and this drug could impact their ability to communicate effectively when intoxicated,” Besante said.