Deadly opioid resurfaces locally
After going three months without any carfentanilrelated overdose deaths, the Franklin County coroner’s office now is reporting that there were three deaths due to the powerful synthetic opioid in January.
That’s half the number of carfentanil overdose deaths for all of 2018, when six were reported.
“Carfentanil has surfaced once more, and it is important that our residents are aware of the lethality of the drug,” Franklin County Coroner Dr. Anahi M. Ortiz said in a written statement.
Carfentanil, which is used to sedate large animals such as elephants, is a synthetic opioid that is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, said U.S. Drug Enforcement Special Agent Cheryl Davis, who works in the Detroit field office, which covers Ohio.
“Carfentanil can resemble powdered cocaine or heroin and, therefore, an individual may come in contact with this deadly substance without realizing it,” Davis said.
The warning by the Franklin County coroner comes a day after the Cuyahoga County coroner issued a similar warning.
“The reappearance of carfentanil in the local illicit drug supply is alarming,” said Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gibson. “This is a very lethal drug and anyone using illicit or diverted drugs needs to be aware of the possibility of being exposed to it.”
Carfentanil gained notoriety in the illegal
Dr. Thomas Gibson, Cuyahoga County medical examiner drug market in 2016. In Franklin County, there were 72 carfentanilrelated deaths in 2017 and 48 deaths in 2016, according to the coroner’s website.
Though the number of cases has fluctuated, the use of the drug has never gone away, Davis said.
“It may have been out of the public spotlight,” she said. “(But) carfentanil is definitely here. It’s here and it’s here to stay.”
In Cleveland’s Cuyahoga County, there were 58 drug overdoses last month. It’s unclear how many of those were due to carfentanil because toxicology tests are pending. In 2018, there were 24 carfentanilrelated deaths. That was a decrease from a surge of 191 carfentanilrelated deaths reported in Cuyahoga County in 2017.
“Persons who use illicit or diverted drugs should never use alone; have someone there who can call 911 if needed. They should also carry naloxone,” Ortiz said.
If you or a loved one are experiencing an overdose, call 911. For a mental-health or substance-abuserelated emergency, call the Netcare Access Crisis Hotline: 614276-CARE (2273). Or call the Opiate Crisis Line: 614-724-HOPE (4673), which is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.