9 Investigates: 'Super drug' prompts medical examiner to take precautions

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A drug strong enough to sedate an elephant is making its way into Florida. A “super-analog” of the deadly drug fentanyl, known as carfentanil, is so strong, only a poppy seed-sized amount could kill you.

Investigative reporter Karla Ray learned the threat is so serious, the Orange-Osceola County Medical Examiner's Office is taking precautions to protect from accidental exposure.

Before they can examine bodies in the morgue, investigators from the medical examiner’s office respond to scenes in Orange and Osceola counties where they have no idea what they could encounter.

“We don't know what has been going on in that house prior to us getting there,” Dr. Joshua Stephany, the chief medical examiner, said.

Stephany said there is always a risk to his team of accidental exposure to deadly drugs, but the risk is greater with carfentanil being introduced to Florida.

“If fentanyl is only 100 times more potent than morphine, carfentanil is 10,000 times more potent,” Stephany said.

Carfentanil was developed in the 1970s to tranquilize large animals, including elephants. Now it can be ordered from China, where it is unregulated.

Medical examiner investigators are now carrying the opioid-blocking medication Nalaxone, or Narcan, to all scenes, to protect from any accidental small exposure.

“Any interaction with carfentanil can be deadly, any,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent in Charge Danny Banks said.

Drug agents said Florida is second in the U.S. for seizures of the superdrug, with 34 seizures since July. The FDLE sent out a warning to its agents after it was first spotted being shipped into the U.S.

“This is one of the worst drugs we've seen coming to Florida in many, many years, and we've got to limit its exposure,” Banks said.

Banks told 9 Investigates that like fentanyl, carfentanil is being used to mix with other substances, which could make it undetectable to users and first responders, until it’s too late.

“The amount necessary to kill you is so small, it can kill you immediately, before you know what you touched,” Banks said.

Federal drug agents are working to limit the accessibility of the drug, but they are limited by what Chinese regulators will agree to.

9 Investigates recently reported about other dangerous "kill pills" on Central Florida streets. Read the article below:

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