Street drug samples were analyzed using LC–MS/MS to determine the isomeric composition of medetomidine. All samples were found to be racemic (containing dex- and levo- isomers), indicating it is not being diverted from human pharmaceuticals. Medetomidine test strips were found to produce a positive response for these samples.

ABSTRACT

Over the last several years, there has been an influx of α₂-agonists into the street drug supply, beginning with the proliferation of xylazine, a potent veterinary sedative. Since 2023, another sedative, medetomidine, has been widely detected. Medetomidine, broadly, encompasses two enantiomers—dexmedetomidine and levomedetomidine—with the dex enantiomer being pharmacologically active and present in human-use pharmaceuticals. In this work, we investigate street drug samples containing medetomidine to better understand the enantiomeric makeup in the illicit supply. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was used to analyze 100 drug product or paraphernalia residue samples. All samples were found to contain a racemic mixture of medetomidine. A subset of samples was analyzed by medetomidine immunoassay test strips, where racemic mixtures were not found to negatively affect results. All samples were also qualitatively analyzed using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry (DART-MS) to identify commonly co-occurring compounds, which included fentanyl, xylazine, and local anesthetics. Parabens, preservatives found in licit injectable preparations of the drug, were not detected. This work provides a snapshot into the medetomidine makeup of the street drug supply, which needs to be continually monitored given the differences in pharmacology between the two enantiomers.