Elephant Tranquilizer Found In Loudoun; Residents Warned

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A deadly synthetic opioid has been detected in three overdose incidents, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office. Carfentanil, which is an elephant tranqualizer 50 times deadlier than heroin, was found in non-fatal overdoses in July and March, according to lab results.

It's the first time the drug has been detected in Loudoun County, police say. Sheriff Mike Chapman pointed out that heroin sometimes is cut with carfentanil or fentanyl, and that "in either case, these substances can easily and quickly cause death."

Following the latest finding, police are reminding residents never to approach or touch suspected narcotics. Police across the country had adopted measures to protect officers from exposure to fentanyl and other such substances, which can be unintentionally inhaled. Even trace amounts can be highly harmful.

In September 2016, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency issued a warning about carfentanil, which is 10,000 times deadlier than morphine and 100 times deadlier than fentanyl, which is 50 times deadlier than heroin. Improper handling of carfentanil, as well as fentanyl and other fentanyl-related compounds, has deadly consequences, federal authorities said.

"Carfentanil is surfacing in more and more communities," DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg said in a news release. "We see it on the streets, often disguised as heroin. It is crazy dangerous."

Police say there have been no confirmed fatal overdoses in the county from carfentanil, and that the majority come from fentanyl. Compared to this time a year ago, fatal heroin overdoses have decreased 35 percent in Loudoun; non-fatal overdoses, down by 10 percent.

Carfentanil has been attributed to other deadly overdose cases in Northern Virginia.

Image via DEA