Rowan County health officials sounded the alarm on Tuesday after suspected opioid overdose emergency room visits more than doubled between April and May, climbing from five visits to 11, a 120% jump. The surge was concentrated in Salisbury ZIP codes 28144 and 28146 and involved mostly adults ages 25 to 44. County staff say lab testing has confirmed medetomidine, a veterinary sedative, in the local illicit drug supply, raising fears that some overdoses may not fully respond to naloxone alone.
According to a county press release, the May spike in suspected opioid overdose visits surpassed Rowan's six-month average and was flagged through state surveillance data. Rowan County Public Health reported that most of the overdose patients were from Salisbury, that cases occurred at similar rates among White and Black residents, and that men were affected more often than women. The release urges people who use drugs and their loved ones to carry naloxone, use fentanyl and medetomidine test strips when available, avoid using alone, and call 911 for any suspected overdose.
"These numbers represent our friends, family members, neighbors, and coworkers," Hayley Edwards, the county's Substance Use and Mental Health Program Specialist, said in the statement. Pointing to Rowan's place on the state's fatality list, she stressed the need to "work together to prevent overdose deaths and connect people with lifesaving resources," the release noted. Rowan County Public Health.
Medetomidine Complicates Overdose Response
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a national health advisory in April warning that medetomidine is increasingly being found alongside fentanyl and counterfeit pills and can cause prolonged sedation and a withdrawal syndrome that naloxone may not reverse. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A related federal notice from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy highlights the growing risk and urges clinicians to consider medetomidine when overdose patients present in unusual ways. Office of National Drug Control Policy.
How Rowan's Death Rate Compares Statewide
The county release notes that Rowan recorded 15 fentanyl-positive deaths through April 2026 and estimates a fentanyl-positive death rate of about 24 per 100,000 residents, which places Rowan among the highest counties in North Carolina. State toxicology reports from the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner show Rowan consistently appearing among counties with some of the highest fentanyl-positive death rates in recent monthly reports. North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Where To Get Narcan And Testing
Rowan County lists several public Narcan access points and recommends using fentanyl and medetomidine test strips to lower risk. The health department stresses that naloxone is still a critical first step for suspected opioid overdoses, even when other sedatives may be involved. State guidance explains how provisional emergency department and medical examiner data are used to track overdoses and shape prevention work across North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Public health officials emphasize that every overdose is a medical emergency. If you think someone is overdosing, call 911, stay with the person, and give naloxone if you have it. For information on local Narcan access, test strips, treatment, and recovery services, residents can contact the Rowan County HOPE program through the health department. Hayley Edwards can be reached at [email protected] or 704-216-8884 for more details.
