Written by Steve B | Updated on Aug 6, 2024
The opioid crisis in New York City has taken a disturbing turn with the emergence of two extremely potent and dangerous drugs in the city’s drug supply. Health officials have issued a warning about the increasing presence of carfentanil and the first detection of medetomidine, both of which pose severe risks to drug users.
Key Points:
1. Carfentanil Surge:
– Overdose deaths linked to carfentanil have more than doubled in NYC.
– Carfentanil is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and powerful enough to sedate an elephant.
– Seven fatal overdoses were linked to carfentanil through June, up from three in the same period last year.
– Law enforcement has seen at least 35 cases involving carfentanil between November and May.
2. Medetomidine Detection:
– Medetomidine, an animal tranquilizer more potent than xylazine, has been detected for the first time in NYC’s drug supply.
– Like xylazine, medetomidine’s effects cannot be reversed by naloxone, making overdoses particularly dangerous.
3. Overall Overdose Statistics:
– In 2022, over 3,000 people died from fatal overdoses in New York City, a 12% increase from 2021.
– The majority of these deaths were due to synthetic opioid use.
4. Challenges and Concerns:
– These drugs are often mixed with fentanyl and other substances, increasing their lethality.
– The drug supply is becoming increasingly contaminated and unpredictable.
– Experts argue this is not just an overdose or addiction crisis, but a crisis of contaminated drug supply.
5. Response and Debate:
– The city’s Health Department continues to advocate for harm reduction programs, such as providing clean needles and counseling users not to use drugs alone.
– Some critics, including family members of overdose victims and local politicians, argue for a stronger focus on getting addicts clean and cracking down on drug dealers.
6. International Connections:
– These synthetic drugs are typically shipped from China and India to Central and South America, where cartels mix them with other narcotics.
– Drug cartels are constantly changing the chemistry of these drugs, making it difficult for authorities to keep up.
The introduction of carfentanil and medetomidine into NYC’s drug supply represents a dangerous escalation of the ongoing opioid crisis. As the city grapples with how to respond, the debate continues between harm reduction strategies and more aggressive approaches to combating drug use and distribution.
More info via the article at New York Post; Terrifying opioid 100 times stronger than fentanyl, deadly animal tranquilizer discovered in NYC drug supply
Steve B
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