{"id":18453,"date":"2024-12-15T18:33:43","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T17:33:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=18453"},"modified":"2025-05-10T17:54:31","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T16:54:31","slug":"cdc-warns-of-superdrug-that-is-deadlier-than-fentanyl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2024\/12\/cdc-warns-of-superdrug-that-is-deadlier-than-fentanyl\/","title":{"rendered":"CDC warns of superdrug that is deadlier than fentanyl"},"content":{"rendered":"

CDC warns of carfentanil, an opioid that\u2019s 100 times more potent than fentanyl<\/strong>
\nby Fox News – Published Dec. 10, 2024, 11:13 a.m. ET
\nOriginally Published by Centers for Disease Control<\/p>\n

Fentanyl has made headlines for driving overdose deaths, but the and Prevention (CDC) is warning of the rise of an even deadlier drug.
\nLast year, nearly 70% of all U.S. overdose deaths were attributed to illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs).
\nOne of those was carfentanil, an altered version of fentanyl that is said to be 100 times more potent, the CDC warned in a Dec. 5 alert.
\nDeaths from carfentanil rose by more than 700% in the past year, according to the same source \u2014 there were 29 deadly overdoses between January and June 2023, and 238 in that same time frame in 2024.
\nThis data came from the CDC\u2019s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS).
\nThe numbers could actually be higher, as the 2024 data is preliminary and not all overdose deaths have been reported, the agency noted.
\nSince an outbreak of carfentanil-linked deaths in 2016 and 2016, the drug had \u201clargely disappeared\u201d until this recent reemergence, the CDC noted.
\nBased on the increase in fatal overdoses, the CDC is calling for \u201crigorous monitoring\u201d of carfentanil and other opioids more potent than fentanyl.
\nFentanyl has made headlines for driving overdose deaths, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning of the rise of an even deadlier drug.MOLEQL \u2013 stock.adobe.com
\nAs with other illicit drugs, its \u201chigh profitability\u201d likely drives its prevalence, according to Dr. Chris Tuell, clinical director of addiction services at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
\n\u201cVery small amounts can produce thousands of doses,\u201d he told Fox News Digital.
\n\u201cSynthetic opioids like carfentanil are relatively easy to manufacture in illicit labs,\u201d Tuell went on. \u201cSince the drug is a synthetic, it is easier to produce \u2014 unlike heroin, which is dependent on a plant like opium.\u201d
\nWhy is carfentanil so dangerous?
\nCarfentanil is 10,000 more times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, Tuell confirmed.
\n\u201cEven a small amount can be fatal, as it can cause respiratory failure,\u201d he said.
\nLast year, nearly 70% of all U.S. overdose deaths were attributed to illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs).Seth Harrison, The Journal News
\nOne of the major concerns with carfentanil and fentanyl is that they are frequently mixed with other drugs, such as benzodiazepines, cocaine and opioids, which can lead to accidental overdoses, according to Tuell.
\n\u201cCarfentanil can also resemble cocaine and heroin, so it blends right in with the other drugs,\u201d he warned.
\n\u201cEven a tiny amount can increase the potency of a drug mixture, leading to a stronger and longer-lasting high.\u201d
\nCarfentanil often appeals to drug users who have a high tolerance to opioids because they seek a stronger substance, \u201cmaking the drug attractive despite the risk,\u201d Tuell noted.
\nHow is the drug administered?
\nCarfentanil can be injected and is frequently mixed with other opioids or heroin, Tuell said. In a powder form, it can be inhaled.
\n\u201cInhaling the drug can be quickly risky because it can enter the bloodstream, resulting in an overdose,\u201d Tuell warned. \u201cThis can happen intentionally or accidentally, as the drug can become easily airborne.\u201d
\nCarfentanil can sometimes be in the form of \u201cpressed pills\u201d that resemble prescription medications, the expert said.
\n\u201cCarfentanil can be lethal at the 2-milligram range depending on the route of administration,\u201d he cautioned.
\nWhat parents should know
\n\u201cChildren are now the generation of artificial intelligence and deepfakes, as illicit drugs are posing like regular prescription medications,\u201d Tuell cautioned.
\nTo help protect kids from the dangers of illicit drugs, the expert emphasized the importance of open communication and education.
\n\u201cEducate your child about the dangers and risks of drug use, including synthetic opioids like carfentanil,\u201d he advised.
\nParents should provide monitoring and supervision of their children, be aware of their social circles and limit unsupervised online activities, Tuell recommended.
\n\u201cI also believe it is important that parents realize that 84% of individuals with a substance use disorder also have a co-occurring mental health issue,\u201d he added.
\nCarfentanil often appeals to drug users who have a high tolerance to opioids because they seek a stronger substance, \u201cmaking the drug attractive despite the risk,\u201d Tuell noted.luchschenF \u2013 stock.adobe.com
\n\u201cSeeking out mental health services for your child could help address the underlying issues that may have led to a substance use disorder.\u201d
\nThe CDC called for specific efforts in preventing deaths from illegally manufactured fentanyls, \u201csuch as maintaining and improving distribution of risk reduction tools, increasing access to and retention of treatment for substance use disorders, and preventing drug use initiation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Source: https:\/\/nypost.com\/2024\/12\/10\/us-news\/cdc-warns-rise-in-opioid-thats-100-times-more-potent-than-fentanyl\/<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

CDC warns of carfentanil, an opioid that\u2019s 100 times more potent than fentanyl by Fox News – Published Dec. 10, 2024, 11:13 a.m. ET Originally Published by Centers for Disease Control Fentanyl has made headlines for driving overdose deaths, but the and Prevention (CDC) is warning of the rise of an even deadlier drug. Last […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,122,34,92,19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cocaine","category-fentanyl","category-heroin-methadone","category-synthetics","category-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18453\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}