Deadly new drug is 100x more potent than fentanyl
In this DML Report…
A recent CDC report has revealed a sharp increase in overdose deaths linked to carfentanil, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine. Between January 2021 and June 2024, carfentanil was responsible for 513 overdoses across 37 states, with a sevenfold rise in fatalities over the past year. Florida and West Virginia reported the highest numbers, each exceeding 20 deaths, while states like Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, and Ohio saw 10-19 deaths over 18 months. Originally developed in 1974 to sedate large animals like elephants, this drug’s extreme potency—capable of killing via inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption—poses a growing threat to public health.
The CDC data, drawn from death certificates, coroner reports, and toxicology findings, shows that while overall drug overdose deaths dropped in 2023 (from 251,089 between 2021-2023, with 74% tied to fentanyl or its derivatives), carfentanil-specific overdoses are bucking the trend. In 2023 alone, 63,734 Americans died from fentanyl-related drugs, but the rise in carfentanil cases threatens to reverse recent progress in reducing overdose rates. Authorities believe the drug, available in powder, paper, tablet, patch, and spray forms, is illegally manufactured—not stolen from legal stockpiles—and often mixed with other substances like heroin or cocaine to boost potency cheaply, a practice the DEA notes keeps users hooked. A 2021 bust in Riverside County, California, seized 21 kilograms of carfentanil, the largest haul in that region at the time.
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Health officials are sounding the alarm as carfentanil’s spread highlights vulnerabilities in the illegal drug supply. The CDC warns that its presence, though still rare compared to fentanyl, could unravel efforts to curb overdose deaths, especially given its lethality in minuscule doses—just a few grains can be fatal. The report underscores that 70% of U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2023 involved fentanyl or its analogs, with carfentanil emerging as a particularly deadly player. Law enforcement and public health agencies are urging vigilance, noting that the drug’s ability to mimic substances like cocaine or heroin in powdered form increases the risk of accidental exposure among unsuspecting users.