Carfentanil Could Be Next Drug Problem in Region

Scott Shindledecker

Scott Shindledecker

Published November 22, 2017 5:40 am
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CLARION CO., Pa. (EYT) – While carfentanil is showing up more in places across Pennsylvania, law enforcement officials in Clarion County haven’t seen any use of it — yet.

[PHOTO: Comparison of lethal doses of heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil.]

Clarion County Coroner Terry Shaffer said he hasn’t seen it in any overdose deaths in 2017.

“There’s been nothing, yet, but we have a few lab reports we are waiting on,” Shaffer said. “It’s extremely dangerous; it can kill you the first time. I don’t know if people don’t believe it or just don’t care, but it’s very lethal.”

Shaffer said overdose deaths in the county have been about the same as 2016.

“Fortunately, we are not experiencing the problems they are in Armstrong or Allegheny counties,” Shaffer said.

Clarion Borough Police Chief William Peck IV said he hasn’t seen evidence of carfentanil, yet, but reported that Clarion-based State Police have a case that is waiting on lab reports to see what substance they are dealing with.

“It was in the last 10 days,” Chief Peck said. “They won’t know until they get the reports back, but I know it’s nasty stuff. We are waiting on protective gear for our officers to wear when there’s a suspicion that there may be fentanyl or carfentanil involved. If it’s heroin, we will treat it like it’s been laced with something more dangerous.”

In terms of overdose deaths, Peck didn’t have statistics, but he said his department will continue to investigate and prosecute those who sell drugs that result in death.

“We’ve done it before, and we will continue to vigorously investigate these deaths as best we can,” Peck said.

Knox Borough Police Officer Joab Orr also said they haven’t seen carfentanil in the borough.

“We haven’t seen it, yet — and hopefully, we don’t,” Orr said. “Clearly, it isn’t anything to be messing with. We know they’ve seen it in Butler County, so it’s not far from here.”

Recently, State Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced the arrests of six men in Allegheny County for selling $750,000.00 worth of carfentanil, fentanyl, and heroin during the last year.

It is the first known seizure of carfentanil in Allegheny County by the Office of Attorney General.

According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), carfentanil is used as a tranquilizer for large animals, such as elephants, and is 10,000 times more potent than morphine.

Even accidentally inhaling the substance or absorbing it through the skin can cause death.

A Crawford County person’s death in May was ruled to be due to a carfentanil overdose after toxicology reports.

In October, the death of a one-year-old girl from McKees Rocks, Allegheny County, was ruled accidental due to exposure to carfentanil.

The Cambria County Coroner believes it is likely a 69-year-old woman died after absorbing a substance through her skin or had some sort of reaction to the paraphernalia after handling it when she was cleaning up her son’s drug materials after he overdosed on November 5. The mother died November 6, and her son died November 7.

The coroner is waiting on toxicology reports on both.

A PennLive.com report said the death of a York man in June was ruled to be due to carfentanil toxicity after extensive lab tests were performed.

Other deaths in Southeastern Pa. counties, such as Montgomery and Chester, have occurred earlier this year.

According to an article on timesonline.com, a man from Aliquippa was sentenced to serve time in state prison for providing carfentanil to a woman who died in November of 2016.

While carfentanil is showing up in toxicology reports in 2017, fentanyl, heroin, benzodiazepines, cocaine, and prescription opioids are still the biggest causes of drug overdose deaths in Pennsylvania last year.

According to a report in DEA-Analysis of Overdose Deaths in Pennsylvania 2016, there were 2,386 deaths attributed to fentanyl, fentanyl-related substances, and non-prescription synthetic opioids in 2016.

There were 2,089 overdose deaths attributed to heroin, while benzodiazepines were related to 1,541 deaths, cocaine was attributed to 1,257 deaths, 1,181 for prescription opioids, and 917 for ethanol.

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