Last updated : July 14, 2025
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) in Horsham, Philadelphia partners with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and tests illicit drugs. In late April, the center discovered medetomidine in the confiscated street drugs tested. Rhino tranq is what this hard-hitting sedative is called on the street and it’s even more powerful than xylazin. One hundred times more potent, it equates to being like “tranq on steroids.”
Xylazin users still wander Philadelphia’s streets in a stupor. The drug also causes nasty skin ulcers to form which can eventually cause the need for amputation if not treated. Judging by the fact that Philadelphia is still reeling from the onslaught of the xylazine crisis, also known as the zombie drug, this doesn’t bode well for them. According to CFSRE Director, Alex Krotulski, rhino tranq was a contributing factor in 160 overdoses over three or four days.
Worse, it’s not confined to Philly.
Rhino tranq has already been linked to overdose death outbreaks in Illinois and Michigan.
What is medetomidine?
Medetomidine is a highly potent synthetic sedative used by veterinarians as an animal tranquilizer. It’s also formulated for human use—strictly under carefully monitored medical settings. That’s because the drug slows the heart rate to dangerous levels. Because it happens gradually, it makes the lowered heart rate impossible for the user to detect.
Medetomidine is an a2 adrenergic agonist. Cartels mix a2 adrenergic agonists with opioids because it’s believed that they greatly increase the sedative effects of each drug. It encourages repeat business and bigger sales, unless, of course, their client drops dead from an overdose.
Even though users believe they are purchasing opioids, the addition of medetomidine to the mix means naloxone doesn’t always revive overdose victims. It’s because, once again, drug cartels have begun using a dangerous mixing agent unbeknownst to users. If addicts don’t realize the fentanyl or heroin they purchased even contains medetomidine and show signs of overdose and someone administers naloxone, it may not save the day—or their life—because an opiate may not have caused the overdose.
Common side effects
Users may experience any or all of the following side effects:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Numbness or tingling
- Dry mouth
- Feeling faint
- Slowed heart rate
Serious side effects
Rhino tranq can have serious side effects some of which can quickly become life-threatening.
They include:
- Low heart rate
- Blurred vision
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Confusion
- Irregular breathing
- Pale blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- Unusually tired
- Unusual weakness
Caught unaware
When xylazine was discovered in the testing of confiscated drugs or toxicology reports after death, test strips were created and are now freely distributed. It allows drug users to test their drug of choice for the substance before ingesting it.
We can expect the medical community to do the same in short order now that medetomidine has been discovered in the same types of testing.
No way to stop the spread—it’s here
Medetomidine was first discovered in Philadelphia at the end of April. Now, six weeks later, there are reported deaths in Michigan, and Illinois. Health officials in these three states have issued warnings to residents.
However, the alarm needs to be sounded nationwide. This deadly drug is being used as a mixing agent. Drug users aren’t purchasing this deadly substance by choice. Cartels aren’t going to limit the areas they market their tainted wares. It’s only a matter of discovering where too much of this highly potent sedative was added to illicit drugs. They are sold as being something specific, but are really nothing more than a cocktail of dangerous substances.
Sadly, it’s likely that the majority of those discoveries will be made because someone died.
The war wages on
Rhino tranq is, yet, another battle we must fight in the war on drugs. It’s an attempt to keep our country bound in drug addiction and death. Drug cartels smuggle illicit substances into our country on a daily basis for the money and will stop at nothing to keep it rolling in.
Meanwhile, cities and towns across the United States are becoming flooded with homeless encampments and many of them are drug addicts. Crime is rising in part due to desperate addicts craving a fix. Our children walk past people passed out—hopefully, passed out—on their way to and from school each day. A sense of hopelessness lingers in the air threatening to grow more intense
Our nation is under siege. We can’t throw up our hands and admit defeat.
We won’t.
