Overdose death in Riverside County linked to new opioid 100 times stronger than fentanyl

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- Just when public health agencies across the nation are making a dent in the opioid epidemic, a new synthetic drug is making its way onto the scene - and it's far more lethal than fentanyl.

Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, a public health officer with the Riverside University Health System, said that a man in his 40s died as a result of a carfentanil overdose.

"This is the first time that we've seen a carfentanil overdose death in a Riverside County resident," Chevinsky said.

Carfentanil is an elephant tranquilizer 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine.

"When we're talking about the amount of carfentanil that can be lethal, we're talking about on the range of a few grains of salt," Chevinsky explained.

Although rare, U.S. deaths with carfentanil detected increased approximately sevenfold between the first six months of 2023 and the same period in 2024. It can kill in a stealth manner.

Chevinsky says strips that help users identify the presence of fentanyl aren't likely to detect carfentanil.

"It's not that people are necessarily going out and seeking it," she said. "It's rather mixed in with whatever substance that they are using."

Carfentanil is so potent, health officials say the amount of Narcan, or naloxone, used to prevent most opioid overdose deaths may not be enough.

"You may need to use more Narcan in order to reverse the overdose," Chevinsky said.

Chevinsky encourages people to use call lines such as Never Use Alone, which is a U.S. national overdose response line.

"If they do have an overdose, there isn't somebody there to help them," she said.

Chevinsky's advice to parents is to monitor their children's social media use because that's where many people access drugs, and to teach children healthy ways to manage their stress such as journaling, art, music and exercise.