Research and analysis

Use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine

Review of the evidence on the use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine.

From:
Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs
Published
16 February 2024
Last updated
21 October 2025 — See all updates

Documents

A review of the evidence on the use and harms of xylazine (accessible)

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A review of the evidence on the use and harms of xylazine

PDF, 495 KB, 36 pages

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Covering letter 16 Feb 2024: ACMD report – Use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine (accessible)

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Covering letter 16 Feb 2024: ACMD report – Use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine

PDF, 113 KB, 4 pages

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Amendment to ACMD report – Use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine: 21 October 2025 (accessible)

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Details

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) was commissioned to give advice on the appropriate classification and scheduling of xylazine under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. This followed an ACMD self-commissioned review of its harms.

In February 2024, the ACMD published advice on the use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine, and detomidine. The report includes recommendations on the classification and scheduling of xylazine, based on a thorough review of the available evidence and consideration by the working group and ACMD’s Novel Psychoactive Substances Committee. In this amendment, the ACMD proposes the control of medetomidine and detomidine under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

Updates to this page

Published 16 February 2024
Last updated 21 October 2025 show all updates

  1. Amendment to ACMD report – Use and harms of xylazine, medetomidine and detomidine

  2. Accessible versions added.

  3. First published.

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