Overview

• Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl, has reemerged in the U.S. drug supply after years of relative absence.
• The CDC reports a 700% increase in carfentanil-related overdose deaths, rising from 29 fatalities in early 2023 to 238 in the same period in 2024.
• Carfentanil's extreme potency—10,000 times stronger than morphine—makes even small amounts lethal, with risks heightened by its frequent mixing with other drugs like cocaine and heroin.
• The CDC is urging rigorous monitoring and expanded distribution of risk reduction tools, alongside improved access to substance use disorder treatments, to combat the rise in fatalities.
• Experts warn that carfentanil's high profitability and ease of production in illicit labs contribute to its growing prevalence, posing significant challenges for public health and law enforcement.