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5mo ago

CDC Warns of Sharp Rise in Carfentanil Overdose Deaths

The synthetic opioid, 100 times more potent than fentanyl, has seen a 700% increase in fatalities over the past year, prompting calls for urgent monitoring and prevention measures.

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A homeless man is slumped over on a city bench in Phoenix on April 16, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. The city has been hit hard by the fentanyl epidemic, the homeless especially. More than 14,000 Arizonans are homeless on a given night, a population less than half the size of California's on a per capita basis but still one of the nation's largest, according to federal statistics, which are known to understate the problem.(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl, has reemerged in the U.S. drug supply after years of relative absence.
  • The CDC reports a 700% increase in carfentanil-related overdose deaths, rising from 29 fatalities in early 2023 to 238 in the same period in 2024.
  • Carfentanil's extreme potency—10,000 times stronger than morphine—makes even small amounts lethal, with risks heightened by its frequent mixing with other drugs like cocaine and heroin.
  • The CDC is urging rigorous monitoring and expanded distribution of risk reduction tools, alongside improved access to substance use disorder treatments, to combat the rise in fatalities.
  • Experts warn that carfentanil's high profitability and ease of production in illicit labs contribute to its growing prevalence, posing significant challenges for public health and law enforcement.