Houston Cracking Down On Opioids Carfentanil And Fentanyl

HOUSTON, TX — One of the most dangerous street drugs in the U.S. is becoming especially prevalent among Houston area drug dealers, leading the Houston Police Department and Mayor Sylvester Turner to announce they were cracking down on the illicit opioid carfentanil.

“This stuff is real and this stuff will kill you,” Turner said.

During a press conference at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, city officials announced that police officers had recently located about 80 milligrams of a substance they thought was methamphetamine.

However, tests conducted by the Houston Forensic Science Center revealed the substance was actually carfentanil, a highly potent synthetic opioid. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Dr. Peter Stout, CEO of the Houston Forensic Science Center held up a tiny baggie of sugar demonstrating the 80 milligrams of carfentanil, equivalent to 4,000 lethal doses.

“All fentanyl’s have a really high potency, but a lethal dose of this, you can’t even see,” Stout said.

Read Also: Accused Narcotics Dealer Arrested With 100 Grams Of Fentanly

Carfentanil and fentanyl are extremely potent synthetic opioids — about 100 more potent than morphine, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

In the last 18 months, the city has seen at least 20 cases of carfentanil or fentanyl-related deaths, Stout said.

Meanwhile, the samples the lab has encountered have come in the form of pills disguised as Xanax or other narcotics, or in a powder form.

Stout said stricter handling procedures have already been implemented for laboratory personnel, and that first responders would have to begin taking special precautions in handling this substance.

"This stuff is really frightening. Nobody really knows what the lethal dose is. It's only legitimate use is elephant tranquilizer, so the estimates are a lethal dose is 20 micrograms. That would be 20 millionths of a gram," Stout said. "So a lethal dose is something so small, you're not going to see it..."

Earlier this month, investigators arrested a 22-year old Katy man as he picked up a package of fentanyl from an area post office.

The fentanly was shipped from an address in China, which is common, officials said Tuesday.

When officials arrested the man, they were forced to don hazmat suits before they were ableot search his apartment.

“If we’re this worried about first responders...imagine people who are playing Russian roulette with their lives...,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said. “...they are putting this stuff in these pills that can kill you so easily.”

Carfentanil and fentanyl have been used to mix with heroin or cocaine more potent, but in some cases, carfentanil and fentanyl are being sold in pure forms in pills that look like pharmaceuticals, because they’re easy to produce, cheap.

But they are also highly addictive and are most likely fatal.

Acevedo said this was a significant threat to society and the first responders who come into contact with this substance, and urged all personnel to treat all substances with extreme care.

Image: Bryan Kirk, Patch Staff

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