COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOWK) – Authorities across the U.S. are warning of carfentanil, a dangerous synthetic opioid 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
“The presence of carfentanil in illicit U.S. drug markets is cause for concern, as the relative strength of this drug could lead to an increase in overdoses and overdose-related deaths, even among opioid-tolerant users,” the Drug Enforcement Agency said in a news release. “The presence of carfentanil poses a significant threat to first responders and law enforcement personnel who may come in contact with this substance.”
In Ohio, the number of drug samples containing multiple substances is rising across the region, with experts warning about a spike in carfentanil.
Chemists at Ohio’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) say carfentanil is creating a risk for a serious health concern and public safety.
In 2025, the BCI identified more than 199 items containing carfentanil, which they say is more than the last four to five years of testing combined.
“There were a little over 1,200 samples in 2017, so we’re not quite there yet, but well above the 30 to 40 we’ve seen the last couple,” said Jessica Toms, laboratory manager at BCI.
Carfentanil is used as an animal tranquilizer for elephants and other large animals, according to the DEA.
An amount as small as the tip of a pencil can be lethal. Officials say it’s often manufactured overseas and shipped into the U.S., where it appears in tablet and powder form in various colors.
The BCI says the substance has been found in 46 counties across Ohio and in surrounding states, typically mixed with cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl, making it extremely toxic when combined.
“When I first started out in drug chemistry testing evidence here at BCI, drug items that we were testing only had one substance in it. You had cocaine, it was cocaine, and you had heroin, it was heroin,” Toms said. “And now it’s not uncommon to see five or six different drugs that are mixed together. The most I think we’ve had is 12 different controlled substances in one sample.”
Pharmaceutical and health leaders warn that the surge in lab-made drugs like carfentanil is fueling overdoses and deaths across the Ohio region. They urge the public to be aware of the dangers of drug use and to carry resources such as narcan to help prevent fatal overdoses.