WASHINGTON DC (LOOTPRESS) — A highly potent fentanyl derivative, carfentanil, is contributing to a growing number of overdose deaths in the United States, prompting a warning from health officials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), carfentanil—a synthetic opioid designed to tranquilize large animals—was detected in 513 overdose fatalities between 2021 and early 2024.
Carfentanil is estimated to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl. Just 2 milligrams of carfentanil, an amount sufficient to tranquilize an elephant, can be lethal for up to 50 people, according to a Department of Veterans Affairs report.
Sharp Increase in Deaths
While overall drug overdose deaths have declined since 2023, they remain alarmingly high, largely driven by illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs). Overdose deaths involving carfentanil spiked dramatically in the latter half of 2023, rising from 29 deaths in June to 175 by December—an increase of approximately 503%. This trend continued into 2024, with 238 carfentanil-related deaths reported by June, representing a 720% increase in just 12 months.
Regional Impact
The CDC’s report also highlights regional differences in overdose patterns. In the Northeast, Midwest, and South, IMFs have been implicated in 70% to 80% of overdose deaths since 2021. Meanwhile, the Western United States has seen a steady rise in IMF-related fatalities, increasing from 48.5% of overdose deaths in 2021 to 66.5% in the first half of 2024.
Ever-Changing Drug Supply
The surge in carfentanil-related deaths underscores the dangers posed by the evolving nature of the illegal drug supply. “The presence of such powerful substances in the drug market threatens to undermine progress made in combating the overdose crisis,” the CDC report warns.
Health experts and policymakers are calling for increased awareness, enhanced law enforcement efforts, and expanded access to addiction treatment and harm-reduction services to address the growing threat of synthetic opioids like carfentanil.
