Cuyahoga County sees ‘significant increase’ in carfentanil to start 2019

After seeing a major decline in the presence of carfentanil in 2018, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Gilson said his office has seen a significant increase in the large animal sedative to start the new year.

Gilson issued a public health warning Feb. 7, stating the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory has seen an increase of seized carfentanil (powder and tables) tested over the past month.

The county had 24 carfentanil-related overdose deaths in 2018 after 191 in 2017. Total overdose deaths decreased in the county last year to 560, down from a record 727 in 2017.

A decrease in carfentanil was seen across the state last year from Montgomery County (home to Dayton) to Lake County.

“The re-appearance of carfentanil in the local illicit drug supply is alarming. 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,” Gilson said in a statement. “Having another person in the vicinity to call 911 and/or administer naloxone can be lifesaving.”

Gilson also said that there were at least 58 drug overdose deaths in January, one of the deadliest months in the county’s history. Toxicology confirmation testing is pending, so it’s too early to determine how many of the deaths are carfentanil-related, according to the medical examiner’s office.

The office stated that carfentanil is nearly impossible to detect by sight because it is often mixed with other drugs or disguised as prescription tablets.

Cuyahoga County residents seeking the opioid-reversal medicine naloxone can contact Project DAWN for information at 216-7785677. Eligible participants are given free naloxone kits.