Erie County health officials are warning the public of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid that is up to 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil is primarily used to anesthetize large animals, like elephants, for surgery or medical treatment.

According to the Erie County Department of Health, even a small dose of carfentanil can cause overdose or death due to its potency. 

“These recent, unrelated tests confirm what we know about the nature of the opioid epidemic: that using unregulated drugs comes with inherent and unknown risks,” said Commissioner of Health Dr. Gale Burstein. “We are sharing this information with our partners who work in harm reduction, drug treatment and recovery because people who use drugs can take protective measures to reduce their risk of overdose and death.”

The Erie County Medical Examiner’s Office reported 376 confirmed or suspected drug overdose deaths in 2024 as of Jan. 8, 2025.