US Pharm. 2016;41(10):10.
Springfield, VA—The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a public warning about the health and safety risks of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil is a Schedule II controlled substance used as a tranquilizing agent for elephants and other large mammals; it is not approved for human use. Sometimes sold as heroin, carfentanil has been linked to a significant number of overdose deaths nationwide. Improper handling of the compound can be life-threatening. It is recommended that first responders exercise extreme caution when encountering carfentanil or other synthetic opioids and be ready to administer the rescue agent naloxone if exposure should occur.
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