OMAHA, Neb. — The Omaha Police Department’s Narcotics Unit has identified the presence of carfentanil in the Omaha Metro Area, raising significant concerns due to its extreme potency. Carfentanil, a synthetic opioid, is approximately 10,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Its emergence in local drug markets poses a severe risk, as even minimal exposure can lead to fatal overdoses, including among opioid-tolerant individuals.
Recently, carfentanil has been detected in the form of M-30 blue pills, but it may also appear as a liquid or powder resembling cocaine or heroin. Carfentanil is legally used only in zoological settings as a tranquilizer for large animals, such as elephants and rhinoceroses, under the brand name Wildnil.
The Omaha Police Department urges the public to be aware of the extreme overdose risk associated with carfentanil. Due to its potency, overdose symptoms can occur rapidly and may be more difficult to reverse. In suspected overdose cases, multiple doses—possibly six to eight—of Naloxone (Narcan) may be required to counteract the effects…