While fentanyl remains a major driver of America’s overdose crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning about a disturbing rise in deaths linked to an even deadlier drug—carfentanil. A fentanyl analog, carfentanil is 100 times more potent than its predecessor.
The CDC recently reported a sharp jump in deaths involving carfentanil, with the monthly average climbing from 3.3 between January 2021 and June 2023 to 34.4 between July 2023 and June 2024. Over that period, overdose deaths with carfentanil detected occurred in 37 states, with eight—New York, Florida, Michigan, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland—recording at least 20 deaths each.
The CDC is emphasizing the urgent need for close monitoring of carfentanil and other high-potency opioids.
“Because carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl, overdose deaths could substantially increase if carfentanil further infiltrates the drug supply, as evidenced by previous outbreaks,” the CDC warned. The agency raised concerns that carfentanil may be unknowingly mixed into other drugs, much like fentanyl was initially added to heroin without users’ knowledge.
To combat the rising threat, the CDC is advocating for:
–Public education on the risks of substance use and the dangers of taking non-prescribed pills.
–Drug-checking services to help users understand what substances they’re consuming. While fentanyl test strips can detect fentanyl, they cannot distinguish between fentanyl and carfentanil.
–Expanded access to naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. However, due to carfentanil’s extreme potency, larger or multiple doses of naloxone may be needed, along with faster emergency responses.