Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - There's a new concern in the opioid crisis in Erie County. For the first time, carfentanil has been found in an overdose toxicology report. This was from a case in September.
"Our opioid epidemic has changed since the pandemic," says Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein, and it's changed once again. Carfentanil was found in a toxicology report from a September overdose, a first for Erie County.
"Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is about 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl," Burstein tells WBEN. She says veterinarians generally use it to anesthetize large animals like elephants for surgery or medical treatment. "Carfentanil that is diverted, stolen or manufactured overseas is added to cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin and other illicit drugs as a cheap, easy to obtain filler substance," adds Burstein.
Burstein notes a majority of overdoses cases had a mixture of drugs. “75% of our opioid overdoses have both fentanyl and cocaine. So that's three out of four of our opioid overdoses have cocaine in the toxicology screen. And we've never had higher doses, higher numbers of opioid overdose deaths than we've had this year," says Burstein.
Burstein says it's being used by drug cartels and drug dealers to taint cocaine and meth, which are stimulants, to people who may not realize that they're using something that can stop their breathing. "I think people can't assume that if they think they're using cocaine or meth, that is that is all that they're using," advises Burstein.
Burstein says fentanyl test strips are available for people who use drugs to test for the presence of fentanyl. "No test is 100% accurate. Fentanyl test strips do not indicate which type of fentanyl or fentanyl-analog, like carfentanil, is present, nor do they indicate the concentration or potency, warns Burstein. "People who use any drugs, especially people who use cocaine, should expect that their drugs contain opioids that could cause an overdose – now possibly including carfentanil – stop them from breathing, and lead to death."
-The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) offers harm reduction supplies and peer support – call (716) 858-7695. Other ways to reduce the risk of harm from drug use:
-Carry Narcan, and know how and when to use it. Text (716) 225-5473 to have Narcan and fentanyl test strips mailed to you for free.
-Never use alone. Have Narcan and a friend with you who is not using drugs, or contact a service like Never Use Alone (neverusealone.com)
-Test your drugs for fentanyl even if you think it is cocaine or another substance that is not an opioid. Free test strips available from the Erie County
Department of Health. Call (716) 858-7695.
-Seek support. ECDOH has peer navigators and a family coordinator; call (716) 858-7695. The Buffalo & Erie County Addictions Hotline is available 24/7 with referrals for individuals and their families. Call (716) 831-7007.
-Seek treatment. Local hospital emergency departments can connect patients to immediate medication assisted treatment. Ask for MATTERS Network.
Burstein fears this is only the beginning. "We have to assume we're going to find additional cases of carfentanil in toxicology screens," warns Burstein.