Forwarded by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
| CDC Health Advisory:
Medetomidine in the U.S. Illegal Fentanyl Supply Increasing Risk for Overdose and Severe Withdrawal Syndrome
April 3, 2026
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a Health Advisory about increasing reports from U.S. jurisdictions detecting medetomidine in the illegal drug supply and the severe withdrawal syndrome due to medetomidine exposure. The geographic spread of medetomidine, a potent veterinary sedative, appears to be expanding from the Northeast to the Midwest and the South with only low-level detections in the West.
The LAC DPH Health Advisory Medetomidine in Illicit Drugs: Increased Risk for Overdose and Severe Withdrawal (LAHAN 1/15/26) notified local healthcare providers about this trend and outlined recommended action steps for suspected medetomidine overdose. To date, the worrisome patterns seen in higher-prevalence jurisdictions described in the CDC Health Advisory have not yet been observed in Los Angeles County.
Healthcare providers should remain alert and be prepared to recognize and manage medetomidine-related overdose and withdrawal.
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You can also copy and paste this link into your browser https://www.cdc.gov/han/php/notices/han00527.html
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To view this and other communications or to sign-up to receive LAHANs, please visit ph.lacounty.gov/lahan.
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