Description

Carfentanil: Uses, Risks, Effects, Safety Information

What Is Carfentanil?

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid. Carfentanil is not made for people the way the medications health care professionals prescribe are. It was developed for veterinary use on large animals.

But it’s super strong, and so it’s especially dangerous when it’s not used in a controlled veterinary setting. Carfentanil can be found in illegally manufactured substances, sometimes mixed with other drugs or pressed into counterfeit pills. So people can be seriously at risk of poisoning without knowing what a substance is made of.

Most importantly, a pill’s appearance, color or packaging cannot tell you what’s inside or if it’s safe.

### What Are the Biggest Risks of Carfentanil?

Carfentanil’s biggest danger is opioid poisoning. It can affect the brain’s control of breathing and lead to respiratory failure, unconsciousness, and death.

Risks also increase when a person unknowingly comes into contact with carfentanil in an illicit drug supply. They may think they are taking another drug and not realize it contains a powerful opioid.

This points out the importance of public awareness and access to emergency medical assistance in overdose prevention.

Carfentanil Overdose Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing an opioid overdose quickly can save a life. Warning signs can include:

• Slow, shallow, irregular, or absent breathing.
• Extremely drowsy or unable to wake up.
• Pupils very small, pinpoint.
• There may be loss of consciousness or floppiness.
• Cold, sweaty, or discolored skin.
• Choking, gurgling, or abnormal snoring sounds in an unconscious person.

Furthermore, the person who is overdosing can become unresponsive very quickly. Don’t wait until all the symptoms are showing to seek help.

Emergency: What should you do?

If you think you’ve been poisoned by carfentanil, call 911 in the United States right away. Tell the emergency dispatcher your concerns and follow any instructions they provide.

Give naloxone as directed if you have it. While naloxone can reverse opioid effects, carfentanil poisoning may need repeated doses and advanced emergency treatment. So never assume that one dose has cleared the danger.

If the person is not breathing normally, do what the dispatcher tells you to do to give rescue breathing or CPR. If the person is breathing but unconscious, turn them onto their side as soon as it is safe to do so. Remain with them until emergency responders arrive.

Never delay seeking emergency treatment to search for information on the web.

Public Awareness and Prevention

Preventing opioid overdoses requires reliable information, community education and timely access to healthcare. For example, people should avoid taking unknown pills or powders and should never assume that an illicit substance is safe, even if it resembles a familiar medicine.

Also, fentanyl test strips might miss some dangerous opioids or fail to reliably identify carfentanil. So, a negative test result does not guarantee safety.

Families also can learn how to recognize the symptoms of an overdose and keep naloxone available where appropriate. Health care providers and community organizations can help people access evidence-based treatment and overdose prevention resources.

Commonly Asked Questions About Carfentanil

Is carfentanil approved for use in people?

No. It is so powerful and dangerous that it is not approved for human use.

How strong is carfentanil?

Carfentanil is thought to be about 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine. These comparisons reflect relative potency, not a safe level of human consumption.

Can you overdose on carfentanil?

Yes. Carfentanil can cause severe respiratory depression, unconsciousness, and death. Immediate medical attention is required for suspected exposure.

Will naloxone work for a carfentanil overdose?

Yes. Naloxone reverses respiratory depression caused by opioids. But additional doses and emergency medical treatment may be required.

Could I identify carfentanil by sight?

No. Never judge carfentanil (or any substance) by appearances.

Summary

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is extremely potent and dangerous to humans. Initially developed for veterinary use, its presence in illicit drug supplies can result in life-threatening poisoning.