Authorities alarmed by carfentanil's emergence in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – A new threat has emerged in Utah as authorities sound the alarm over carfentanil, a powerful synthetic opioid initially used as an elephant tranquilizer. The re-emergence of carfentanil – a drug 100 times more lethal than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine – is causing significant concern among law enforcement officials.

Federal prosecution in Utah

In a landmark case, Clint Pendleton, 29, has become the first individual in Utah to face federal prosecution in connection to carfentanil. Last month, federal authorities in Los Angeles intercepted a package destined for an address in Payson, UT for Clint Pendleton. The package contained about 20 grams of carfentanil. During a search of Clint Pendleton's home in Provo where he lived with his father, Brian Lee Pendleton, 64, deputies also seized several drugs. Brian Lee Pendleton is also facing drug-related charges in Utah's Fourth District Court.

Expert insights

Sgt. Ray Ormond from the Utah County Sheriff's Office emphasized the increased danger posed by carfentanil compared to other opioids. "It's a lot more dangerous than fentanyl," Ormond noted, stressing the drug's deadly potency. Dustin Gillespie, special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Rocky Mountain Field Division, confirmed the presence of carfentanil in Utah within the past year. "We've seen it here in Utah, so it is here in our state," Gillespie said. "We've seen it in powder form and we've seen it in pill form. And it's an absolutely cause for concern."

Rising concerns

Authorities have found that carfentanil is quietly infiltrating the streets by getting mixed with other opioids and illicit drugs, catching unsuspecting users off guard. "Many had no idea they were ingesting carfentanil," Gillespie said. "A lot of people who are purchasing these drugs are not looking for carfentanil but that's what they're getting." While naloxone can counteract overdoses of opioids like fentanyl, its effectiveness is significantly diminished against carfentanil, requiring multiple administrations to have an impact. "For a regular heroin overdose, it's typically one dose of Narcan or naloxone," Ormond said. "With fentanyl, it was advised to use two to three doses. With carfentanil, the potency of it is so great they actually recommend you use a dose of naloxone every two to three minutes until the person recovers." [gallery ids="738411,738412,738413"] Ormond highlighted the logistical challenges faced by emergency responders, noting, "An ambulance struggles to actually be able to carry the amount needed to get someone from scene to the hospital if they're overdosing on carfentanil." "It's an absolutely devastating poison and it has devastating effects," Gillespie said.

Preventative measures

Law enforcement is raising the alarm now to warn against the emergence of carfentanil, saying they fear the impact of it becoming as common as fentanyl. According to the Utah Department of Health, fentanyl is now the most common drug in overdose deaths in the state. "Our fear as law enforcement would be to see that transition into carfentanil," Ormond expressed. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, between one and five people died of a carfentanil overdose in 2023. Data for 2024 is not yet available.

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