Fatal drug combination sparks alert as 'rhino tranq’ spreads across US

Fox News article features Dr. Adam Scioli of Caron Treatment Centers talks about the growing threat of “rhino tranq,” a dangerous drug combination of fentanyl and the veterinary sedative medetomidine. In the piece, Dr. Scioli highlights how this emerging substance is complicating addiction treatment and overdose response, emphasizing that its effects are more severe and unpredictable than opioids alone.

The article notes a sharp rise in medetomidine detections across the U.S., signaling a rapidly evolving and increasingly hazardous drug supply. Dr. Scioli explains that because medetomidine is not an opioid, naloxone (Narcan) does not reverse its sedative effects, leaving individuals at continued risk even after opioid reversal. He also underscores the clinical challenges associated with the drug, including profound sedation, respiratory depression, and severe withdrawal symptoms that may require hospitalization or intensive care.

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