The synthetic opioid carfentanil has been mixed with heroin and other drugs sold on the streets.
How dangerous is it? Carfentanil is considered to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Exposure to one grain could prove fatal.
The Mansfield Police Department forensic science laboratory recently detected the carfentanil in several confiscated illicit drug samples, according to a news release issued Friday by Mansfield Police Lt. Joseph Petrycki, commander of the METRICH drug unit.
"Carfentanil is 100 times as potent as fentanyl, making it the most potent commercial opioid. Its only intended use is as a sedative for large animals," Petrycki said.
To put that into perspective, fentanyl is considered to be 50 to 100 times stronger than street heroin.
Recovery First Treatment Center defines carfentanil as “a powerful derivative of fentanyl, a synthetic narcotic analgesic produced from morphine.”
“Even for people who have struggled with addiction to powerful narcotics, a dose the size of a grain of salt can rapidly lead to an overdose and death,” the website states.
The treatment center website also said the drug is typically used to sedate large animals, primarily elephants, and isn’t approved for human use in any capacity.
“The drug is so powerful that when veterinarians handle carfentanil, they use protective gear so they don’t breathe it in or absorb it through their skin,” the website continues.
Carfentanil already has had a deadly impact locally.
On Sept, 23, Huron County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a possible narcotics overdose reported at 421 E. Ohio 61. Reports indicate the person was dead when deputies arrived.
Sheriff Todd Corbin said the carfentanil-laced heroin incident could result in a charge of involuntary manslaughter — a first-degree felony punishable by three to 11 years in prison.
“We were able to identify the person that sold the heroin the person overdosed with,” Corbin said, adding there have been multiple incidents connected with this one overdose.
Corbin credited METRICH for assistance with the case.
The investigative group began in 1986 with a goal of reducing the availability of illegal drugs in Richland County. It has now grown to include 10 counties, including Huron County, which joined in 1991. Other counties involved are Crawford, Morrow, Knox, Seneca, Marion, Ashland, Hancock and Wyandot.
Carfentanil reached Ohio in July 2016, when 35 overdoses and six deaths occurred in a span of three days.
Carfentanil-related cases have made their way into local courts as well.
In August, Eddie D. Tackett, Jr., 27, of 604 Dale Ave., Willard, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated trafficking in carfentanil. Earlier this month, Tackett was sentenced Thursday to 17 months in prison.
That same week, Matthew Sweet, 60, of 33 Spring St., Willard, received a 22-month prison term. He had been indicted for aggravated possession of carfentanil, among other charges. However, that charge and others were dismissed in exchange for a guilty to two counts of trafficking in heroin.
Norwalk Police Department Detective Sgt. Jim Fulton said they have seen a lot of bad drugs come through town recently.
“We’ve seen that and we’ve seen 3-methylfentanyl (an opioid pain killer) — what they call an analog drug,” Fulton said.
“With the overdose deaths we have had back in April, those involved something called parafluorobutyrfentanyl (sold as a powder or nasal spray and considered a powerful opioid).
“On two occasions this year I can think of when we were out buying drugs and one guy was selling drugs the day after somebody overdosed on the same thing,” Fulton continued. “On another occasion, a guy was telling somebody to be careful because this killed somebody the day before in Erie County. It appears to me these people are looking for these types of drugs to get a bigger high.
“They know we have Narcan out there and can be saved, so they can use whatever they want.”
How frustrating is that for law enforcement officers?
“I think it is our duty to save people,” Fulton said. “That is our job, but the whole situation is frustrating. We know it is a national problem — we saw our president talking about it yesterday. I think you can go to almost any community in this country and find these drugs.
“If we had the answer, we wouldn’t have this problem. What’s the answer? Don’t do drugs. I guess if you live that lifestyle, you don’t put a high value on your life. It’s a shame.”
Carfentanil was first encountered by the Mansfield police department’s laboratory last summer. Since then, the lab identified other dangerous drugs, iincluding Acetylfentanyl, Acrylfentanyl, Furanyl fentanyl, Cyclopropyl fentanyl, 3-methyl fentanyl and Methoxyacetyl fentanyl, according to police.
METRICH is trying to identify the source or sources that are bringing the carfentanil and fentanyl into this area, Petrycki said.
On Wednesday, 39 people were indicted by a federal grand jury, the majority of which are from the Mansfield area. The investigation involved between 250 to 300 agents and raids targeting two separate drug trafficking rings encompassing four states.
The METRICH Enforcement Unit encourages area residents to continue to be proactive by reporting suspected drug activity. Citizens can call the METRICH Crime Tip Hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or the Task Force line at 419-755-9728.
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