DEA Officer Security Alert

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration recently released an officer safety alert on the dangers of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. The presence of carfentanil in illicit U.S. drug markets is cause for concern because the relative strength of this drug could lead to an increase in overdoses and overdose-related deaths. Also, the presence of carfentanil poses a significant threat to first responders who may come in contact with this substance. In any situation where any fentanyl-related substance, such as carfentanil, might be present, law enforcement should carefully follow safety protocols to avoid accidental exposure. To download the DEA alert, go to https://www.dea.gov/divisions/hq/2016/hq092216_attach.pdf.