Amidst a crisis of drug overdoses gripping Toronto, a dangerous animal tranquilizer is now making its way into the city’s street drugs, posing a new challenge for community workers.
According to Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, a high percentage of fentanyl samples tested recently contained a potent veterinary tranquilizer.
The managing director of Toronto’s Drug Checking Service, Hayley Thompson, reveals that a new veterinary tranquilizer called Medetomidine has emerged in the city’s drug supply, surpassing the previously seen Xylazine. Medetomidine, typically used by veterinarians for sedating animals during surgeries, is alarmingly 200 times more potent than Xylazine and can induce extreme drowsiness, slow heart rate, and low blood pressure in humans.
Dr. Jessica Kent-Rice, an emergency medicine physician, notes that Medetomidine may lead to more severe cardiovascular effects compared to Xylazine, raising concerns among healthcare professionals.
Recent reports indicate that Medetomidine is now present in three-quarters of fentanyl samples tested, a significant shift from the prevalence of benzodiazepines mixed with opioids in 2019.
The introduction of Medetomidine has complicated overdose responses, as existing facilities are equipped to handle respiratory issues but not necessarily heart-related complications. This has led to an increase in ambulance calls due to suspected opioid overdoses in Toronto.
Toronto’s drug checking service is advocating for increased funding and collaboration with provincial partners to expand drug testing programs, especially as supervised consumption sites have been reduced in the city. The aim is to stabilize the fentanyl supply and provide safer alternatives to combat the crisis effectively.
While there are no specific reversal agents for drugs like Medetomidine and Xylazine, experts emphasize the importance of using naloxone in suspected opioid overdose cases for the best chances of saving lives.
Keyphrase: Toronto drug crisis.