A drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl has spread across the United States over the last year.
According to a report from the CDC, an estimated 70% of deaths caused by drug overdoses in 2023 were linked to illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs), namely, carfentanil.
Carfentanil is a “fentanyl analog 100 times more potent than fentanyl,” the CDC said.
“Although rare, deaths with carfentanil detected increased approximately sevenfold, from 29 during January–June 2023 to 238 during January–June 2024; 37 states reported carfentanil detection,” the report read.
Carfentanil “largely disappeared after carfentanil-involved overdose death outbreaks during 2016–2017,” the CDC said, although recent data indicates that it is reemerging in the U.S.
Because not all overdose deaths for 2024 have been reported, it is likely that deaths associated with carfentanil are underestimated.
Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, told Fox News that “[s]ynthetic opioids like carfentanil are relatively easy to manufacture in illicit labs. Since the drug is a synthetic, it is easier to produce — unlike heroin, which is dependent on a plant like opium.”
“Even a small amount can be fatal, as it can cause respiratory failure,” he warned.
Carfentanil, like fentanyl, is frequently mixed with other drugs. “Carfentanil can also resemble cocaine and heroin, so it blends right in with the other drugs,” he said. “Even a tiny amount can increase the potency of a drug mixture, leading to a stronger and longer-lasting high.”
Tuell noted that Carfentanil can be lethal at the “2-milligram range depending on the route of administration.”
