Veterinary tranquilizers showing up in illegal drug supply across Atlantic Canada

A spike in drug overdoses over the weekend in Moncton, N.B., has front-line workers across Atlantic Canada on alert. Harm reduction organizations say a dangerous veterinary sedative is mixing into the illegal drug supply in ways that current overdose-reversal tools cannot address.

Moncton's fire department responded to 52 overdose calls over one weekend — described by the fire chief as the worst few days he's seen in eight years on the job. Workers at Ensemble Moncton, the city's only drug overdose prevention site, suspect the current supply contains medetomidine, a strong tranquilizer not made for human consumption.

In Saint John, Avenue B Harm Reduction's drug testing machine has recently detected medetomidine in the supply. Executive director Laura MacNeill said the organization is seeing more young people arriving with complicated poisoning cases.

"The toxic drug supply is here," she said.

The challenge is critical: naloxone (NarCan) works only on opioids. These tranquilizers do not respond to it. Deputy Fire Chief Ed Moyer of Saint John noted, "NarCan is only effective with opioids. So, anything else, it's not effective." Xylazine, another powerful tranquilizer used in illicit drugs, presents the same problem.

Researchers are studying medications that could reverse tranquilizer effects, but MacNeill emphasized that front-line workers need more than new drugs — they need better access to treatment options, housing, and mental health supports. "It's an affordability crisis. We're seeing a crisis of mental health and we definitely need more supports," she said.

For Edmonton readers, the warning signals movement of dangerous substances through North American drug markets. What appears in Atlantic Canada often reaches other provinces within weeks.