This drug is a lethal threat to area first responders

By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer

Posted 5/11/16

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This drug is a lethal threat to area first responders

Posted Wednesday, May 11, 2016 1:00 am

By Cindy Gladden, Record Staff Writer

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) issued a warning to first responders that a new drug, often disguised as heroin, poses a potential fatal threat to anyone exposed to it, including bystanders, loved ones and first responders.Carfentanil is normally used to tranquilize large animals, such as elephants, and is not approved for human use. A synthetic opioid, the DEA reports it is “approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl.”It is a significant threat to first responders and law enforcement personnel since it can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. If people unknowingly come into contact with it, the results could be fatal.“It’s crazy dangerous,” said Chuck Rosenberg of the DEA in his report to first responders.The DEA said the drug acts quickly, causing respiratory depression, drowsiness, disorientation, pinpoint pupils and clammy skin. Carfentanil may resemble powdered cocaine or heroin.Ralph Hellebusch, administrator for the Warren County Ambulance District, said the county has had no known incidents at this time but wants the public to know the danger.“When we come on scene, we have no idea what the patient has been taking and (if the patient is a minor) the parents may have no idea,” said Hellebusch. “Hopefully it (carfentanil) won’t come to Warren County.”Hellebusch said EMS can administer the drug Narcan to some overdose patients, but reports indicate the drug does not work on carfentanil.Police officers and EMS personnel in Cincinnati are seeing cases of carfentanil. In August 2016, NPR reported, more than 170 cases were reported in six days.The DEA said carfentanil has only been confirmed in Ohio and Kentucky.The DEA report said it only takes a microgram of carfentanil, similar to a few grains of salt, added to another drug to make it lethal. It is often added to other drugs to make them more potent.Although the presence of carfentanil has not been detected, Hellebusch said there are still plenty of problems with misuse of prescription drugs or illegal drug use in the area.“Sometimes teenagers will have a party and every one will bring medications and put them in a big bowl,” he said. “It’s called pharming.”Some of the danger lies right in the home, in medicine cabinets.“Remember the ratio between adult medications and pediatric doses are about 10-to-1,” said Hellebusch.Hellebusch said all medications should be secured away from children. He also cautioned parents to keep their prescription medications secure from teenagers.Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) can be a great resource for parents and first responders alike.Hellebusch urges parents to make use of the service if they think a child has ingested something inappropriate.

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