You have probably seen the warnings on
the news about carfentanil, the dangerous opioid that is 10,000 times
more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself
is 50 times more potent than heroin. Carfentanil has been linked to a
significant number of overdose deaths in various parts of the country. On the
streets, it is often disguised as heroin.
Improper handling of carfentanil can
have deadly consequences, whether it is inhaled, ingested, or even touched. Considering that it is used as a
tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals, it is not surprising
to learn that carfentanil (and other fentanyl-related compounds) pose a serious
danger to the public, including first responders and other medical personnel.
Immediately administering naloxone, an
an antidote for opioid overdose, can reverse an overdose of carfentanil,
fentanyl, or other opioids, although multiple doses of naloxone may be
required.
More information about carfentanil
can be found at https://www.dea.gov/divisions/hq/2016/hq092216.shtml
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