Risks of New Deadly Drug Hitting the Streets
Reports of the new drug Carfentanil spread as the DEA warns about the deadly risk associated with just trace amounts of the drug. Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid, is 100 times stronger than fentanyl, and in much lower doses, with fatality from .02mg of Carfentanil compared to 2mg of Fentanyl. CBS News reported in a recent article that officials in San Diego County are aware of 3 deaths due to fatal overdose of Carfentanil. There is no doubt that this number will increase as it reaches the hands of street dealers.
When sold on the illegal market, warns the DEA, it is often combined with other drugs, or mixed into a pill to look like Xanax or Oxycontin. As of publication, Carfentanil had not yet hit the streets in Sacramento County and San Diego County, reported local law enforcement in those areas, and they are making a diligent effort to keep ahead of the drug.
For addicts, the temptation to use, steal, or sell such a strong drug far surpasses other opioids because you “need” so little of it. Even in small amounts, the drug is just too powerful, as one veterinarian explained in CBS’s article. He noted that the drug is not even used for horses, rather, it is administered to elephants because of its sheer strength. The discrepancy in size between an elephant and a human should be enough to deter users from trying Carfentanil, but the quest for stronger drugs tests the reasoning of far too many.
The DEA issues a strong warning to be on the lookout for the drug on the streets. It looks like a white powdery substance, much like cocaine or heroin. The drug is a risk to both users and first responders, as contact with skin is enough to cause death.
Addiction to opioids puts your life on the line every day. As these drugs reach the illegal market, that risk increases. Give yourself the gift of a new life with the help of Decision Point’s drug rehabilitation professionals in Prescott, Arizona. Together, we can fight the opioid epidemic one life at a time. Contact our team now at (844) 292-5010.