A more potent form of fentanyl is contributing to the thousands of overdose deaths that happen every year, health officials warn.
An extremely powerful derivative of fentanyl, called carfentanil, was detected in 513 overdose deaths between 2021 and early 2024, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Carfentanil was designed to tranquilize large animals and is estimated to be 10,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
Just 2 milligrams is needed to tranquilize an elephant; that same amount is powerful enough to kill 50 people, according to a Department of Veteran Affairs report.
Drug overdose deaths overall have been declining since 2023, according to the CDC. But they remain high in the United States, and the majority are connected to illegally manufactured fentanyls (IMFs).
Carfentanil-related overdose deaths are becoming less rare, highlighting the “ever-changing illegal drug supply” that threatens the progress made in reducing overdose deaths, according to the report.
