Officials confirm overdose deaths

Synthetic drug found in 2 men’s systems powerful enough to tranquilize elephants

— Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Valerie Arkoosh

Public health officials in Montgomery County have confirmed the county’s first overdose deaths linked to a deadly synthetic drug powerful enough to tranquilize elephants.

The drug known as carfentanil was found in the systems of a 43-year-old man found dead in a Lower Merion home on June 10 and in a 65-year-old Philadelphia man who was transported to Lankenau Hospital in Lower Merion for treatment of a suspected overdose on June 13 and died later that day, according to the county’s Department of Public Safety.

Both men reportedly had a history of substance abuse disorder, including heroin, according to the county coroner.

“These are the first confirmed overdose deaths from carfentanil in Montgomery County, but there have been other cases in Pennsylvania, most recently in Philadelphia,” said John Corcoran, deputy director of public affairs for the county’s Department of Public Safety.

“Carfentanil was developed as a tranquilizer for elephants and is 10,000 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than the chemically similar fentanyl,” Corcoran explained. “Anyone who overdoses on carfentanil will likely need multiple doses of the antidote naloxone to be saved.”

Fentanyl is an opioid pain medication.

“The emergence of carfentanil fatalities is further evidence that the county’s efforts to provide residents access to treatment and first responders access to naloxone is critical in fighting the opioid epidemic bracing the region,” said Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Val Arkoosh.

“The emergence of carfentanil fatalities is further evidence that the county’s efforts to provide residents access to treatment and first responders access to naloxone is critical in fighting the opioid epidemic bracing the region.”

Officials noted that a small amount of fentanyl or carfentanil that is inhaled or absorbed through the skin is enough to cause a potentially fatal overdose in non-drug users.

“Health care workers and first responders who come in contact with both drugs need to be particularly careful and should use personal protective equipment to prevent incidental contact and a potential accidental overdose,” Corcoran said.

Citing recent guidelines released by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, county public safety officials said in incidents where gross contamination of fentanyl or carfentanil is suspected, only specially trained personnel with self-contained breathing

apparatus and fully encapsulated Hazmat suits should assess and neutralize the threat.

According to county officials those federal guidelines state: “As a matter of reference it has been determined that it would only take 2 to 3 milligrams of fentanyl to induce respiratory depression, arrest and possibly death. When visually compared, 2 to 3 milligrams of fentanyl is about the same as five to seven individual grains of table salt.”

Arkoosh said the Montgomery County Overdose Task Force educates the public about all aspects of substance use disorder, increases awareness of extremely dangerous opioids such as carfentanil and provides resources to those in need.

Additional information is available at www.montcopa.org/overdoseprevention.