Wyoming County DA warns of street drug ‘Rhino Tranq’
TUNKHANNOCK, WYOMING COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Local authorities are warning about a new drug discovered in our state.
It’s a powerful animal sedative that’s being mixed with opioids, creating a new and dangerous street drug.
Rhino tranq is the latest mind-altering drug that was found on the streets of pennsylvania earlier this month.
Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters is warning the public about rhino tranq.
Formally known as medetomidine ((meta-toe-mid-een)), the sedative used by veterinarians is making its way into the illicit drug supply.
“It’s actually one step up from an also relatively new drug called Tranq, which is also an animal sedative, but rhino tranq, as the name might indicate, is 100-200 times more powerful,” said Wyoming County District Attorney Joe Peters.
Medetomidine is being mixed with fentanyl and another animal sedative, xylazine, known as “Tranq.”
Straw gun purchases becoming more common in NEPA
The potent cocktail leaves users in a zombified state.
“Any of these drugs can be laced in every street drug out there, so every time you buy a street drug, even marijuana, you are rolling the dice that there’s fentanyl or a tranq component in that drug,” says D.A. Peters.
A major concern is that tranq cannot be treated with overdose reversal medications like Narcan.
“These tranquilizers are sedatives and they suppress your breathing, they attack your respiratory system, and Narcan will not bring you back from that,” stated D.A. Peters.
The presence of the drug in the commonwealth is very new.
The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education near Philadelphia detected it just a few weeks ago.
“Typically, when a drug enters pennsylvania, it’s going to be seen in the largest urban center like Philadelphia. So, if it’s in Philadelphia, I’m planning on it being here,” added D.A. Peters.
Officials have not yet reported the presence of rhino tranq in our area, but they believe it’s only a matter of time.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com.
