A new alert has been issued regarding a drug that’s even stronger than fentanyl and morphine, which has made its way into the local drug supply.
In April, carfentanil, a synthetic opioid, was found in two pressed pill samples from Edgecombe County.
Although carfentanil constituted only about two percent of the composition of these pills, Edgecombe County Community Paramedic Program Manager Dalton Barrett noted that even such a small amount could be lethal.
“It’s incredibly potent,” he remarked. “Just a few micrograms can result in an overdose.”
Barrett indicated that this substance might be connected to a recent overdose in the area, pending results from an autopsy, which is why he feels it’s important to inform the community.
“Given that we’re seeing this issue, and considering the death involved someone who had also consumed the pressed pills, it leads us to believe that’s a possibility,” he stated.
Samples from across the country are tested by UNC’s Street Drug Analysis Lab, which played a role in identifying the substance found in Edgecombe County.
Nabarun Dasgupta, a senior scientist at the lab, mentioned that carfentanil is not frequently seen in North Carolina, but remains a concern.
“Typically, there are fewer than ten confirmed carfentanil-related deaths each year in the state,” he noted.
Despite this, he emphasized the importance of being aware of what is in the drug supply.
“We are concerned because individuals might not be prepared for substances that are more potent than what they normally encounter, potentially leading them to consume the same amount and suffer an overdose,” he explained.
Barrett expressed his concern over the decreasing age of individuals who are experiencing overdoses.
“Now we often find 15-, 16-, and 17-year-olds who have overdosed, but they’re also displaying signs of opioid withdrawal, which indicates a history of opioid use, and that’s alarming,” he observed.
One effective countermeasure against this drug is naloxone, or Narcan.
