Here are key truths about fentanyl and carfentanil based on reliable sources:
- Both fentanyl and carfentanil are synthetic opioids with fentanyl used medically for severe pain relief, while carfentanil is primarily a veterinary tranquilizer for large animals like elephants and is not approved for human use.
- Fentanyl is about 100 times more potent than morphine, and carfentanil is even more potent—about 10,000 times stronger than morphine and approximately 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
- Both drugs can be deadly even in very small doses, causing respiratory depression and overdose deaths.
- Illegally produced fentanyl and carfentanil are added to street drugs and counterfeit pills, greatly increasing overdose risk.
- Naloxone (Narcan) can reverse overdoses from both drugs, but higher or multiple doses of naloxone may be necessary to counteract carfentanil due to its extreme potency.
- Exposure to fentanyl or carfentanil powder by touching or inhaling it is less likely to cause overdose compared to ingestion or injection, but caution is critical due to their potency.
In summary, carfentanil is much more potent than fentanyl and morphine, both are dangerous synthetic opioids with carfentanil not approved for human use, and naloxone is used for overdose reversal though higher doses may be needed for carfentanil overdoses.