Harford County officials warn about powerful tranquilizer mixed with fentanyl
The Harford County officials are warning about a dangerous drug that's strong enough to tranquilize a large animal.
Officials say that "Rhino Tranq" is similar to the more well-known animal tranquilizer, Xylazine, but 200 to 300 times stronger.
Maj. Lee Dunbar, with the Harford County Sheriff's Office, says the drug made its way to Harford County.
"Fortunately, we only had two seizures last year from our patrol units during active patrol, but it's showing up in other drugs," Dunbar said.
Impact of medetomidine
The medical term for the drug is called medetomidine, and it is used in veterinary offices as an animal sedative.
While two incidents may not seem like a lot, the Harford County Department of Health says it's rapidly showing up hidden in other drugs.
"If someone is experiencing an overdose with metatomidine, some of the concerns that you would experience are increased risk of respiratory symptoms, it is a sedative drug, so sedation, slow breathing, slow heart rate," said Ronya Nassar, with the Harford County Health Department.
Nassar says in the last quarter of last year, 17% of drugs tested in Harford County came back positive for metatomidine. In the first quarter of 2026, 32% of drugs tested had it.
"You do want to administer, Narcan or Naloxone if someone is experiencing an overdose," Nassar said. "That will help with the overdose aspect. However, metatomidine, since it is a sedative, it's not going to help with that sedative aspect."
