Carfentanil Kills 3 In NH

CONCORD, NH — Carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer 100 times deadlier than fentanyl, was detected in New Hampshire for the first time ever this week and officials said the powerful narcotic has killed three people and counting. Just 2 milligrams of carfentanil — roughly the size of the tip of a pen — can kill a human, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Gov. Chris Sununu and state public safety officials held a news conference this week to warn of the drug's presence in New Hampshire.

"It presents a serious risk to public safety, first responders, medical treatment and laboratory personnel because it can be absorbed through the skin or ... inhaled so these individuals should exercise extreme caution and seek immediate medical attention should exposure occur," Sununu said in a statement.

Officials said carfentanil is suspected in three fatal overdoses involving two Manchester men and a Meredith man.

"We are continuing to assess the situation, but there is clearly enough evidence to make the public aware and felt it was imperative to urge caution for those that may come in contact with this substance," Sununu added.

Carfentanil is primarily manufactured in China, according to the DEA, though Chinese officials earlier this year agreed to ban the drug, the Associated Press reported. There have been hundreds of fatal carfentanil overdoses across the U.S. over the last year, mostly in the Midwest, though the the drug has recently started appearing in new areas.

In April alone, carfentanil was cited in two deaths in Wisconsin, two deaths in Maryland and one death in Virginia.

The DEA produced a graphic showing the deadly amount of 2 milligrams of carfentanil:

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• Carfentanil Kills Two More In Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Carfentanil Kills 2 In Anne Arundel County, Maryland
• Carfentanil Cited In Virginia Woman's Death

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