FREDERICK, Md. (KR) In the last few weeks, three people in Maryland have died from an overdose of Carfentanil. One of the people killed from the drug was a 53 year-old Frederick man.
Last September, the U.S.Drug Enforcement Agency issued a warning to law enforcement about carfentanil saying it is 100 times deadlier than fentanyl.
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins says, something needs to be done about this serious drug problem.
“Well of course if they’re unconscious or unresponsive we deliver narcan or the naloxone, as it’s known on the street. We do that and we’ve saved a number of lives, but beyond that, we need to get them to a hospital, we need to get them help and need to direct those people toward treatment,” said Sheriff Jenkins.
He said, carfentanil can even be dangerous to police responding to the scene to help someone who is overdosing.
“What I warn the deputies about at this point is exposure to these synthetic opioids like carfentanil because it is highly toxic either by contact or by inhaling or any exposure whatsoever. So we have to be careful in that regard,” said Sheriff Jenkins.
The other two recent overdoses from carfentanil were Anne Arundel County residents.