Officials warn that newer evolutions of Fentanyl are posing deadlier threats than ever before
As if we didn’t have enough to worry about with the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl finding its way into marijuana and vape pens, on June 23 the FBI in conjunction with their law enforcement partners in other agencies, reported that an influx of substances more potent and deadlier than ever, are being seized in record amounts. Fentanyl pills in all colors, shapes, and sizes; fentanyl in liquid and powder form; and fentanyl adulterated with Xylazine are leading to an increased number of drug poisonings and overdoses.
Although this most recent warning comes out of the FBI Denver office, it’s a warning that should be spread across America.
The local field offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Colorado, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado State Patrol and the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, want the public to be aware and recognize the dangers of these substances, know how to protect themselves and help to spread the life-saving message that “One Pill Can Kill.”
Fentanyl remains the leading cause of drug-related deaths in Colorado, increasing by more than 70 percent throughout the state in 2021. Fentanyl is a highly addictive synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Two milligrams of fentanyl, just enough to fit on the tip of a pencil, is considered a potentially lethal dose.
In the last year, the DEA has reported a dramatic increase in the number of potentially lethal pills circulating throughout local communities.
In addition to pills designed to look like Oxycodone or other legitimate medications, fentanyl is found in powder form and can be mistaken for heroin or cocaine. It can also come in liquid form and has been seized in Colorado as a nasal spray. There is also concern about multi-colored fentanyl pills that come in a variety of shapes, including popular logos like Tesla and TikTok; the Versace “designer pill” is shaped like Medusa.
Many of these pills are designed to attract a younger customer base.
According to the FBI, Mexican cartels are responsible for the majority of fentanyl seized in Colorado. As a way to introduce fentanyl into the market, the cartel adulterated other illicit substances such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. However, fentanyl is now being adulterated with Xylazine.
Xylazine is a non-opiate sedative, analgesic, and muscle relaxant only authorized in the United States for veterinary use, but it recently has been linked to overdose deaths throughout the country. In 2022, approximately 23 percent of fentanyl powder and 7 percent of fentanyl pills seized nationally by the DEA contained Xylazine. In 2023, fentanyl pills analyzed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation increasingly contain Xylazine. Since Xylazine is not an opioid, Naloxone might not reverse the effects of an overdose, essentially making the deadliest drug threat facing our country even deadlier.
“DEA Laboratory Testing Reveals that 6 out of 10 Fentanyl-Laced Fake Prescription Pills Now Contain a Potentially Lethal Dose of Fentanyl” ~ DEA.gov
“Fentanyl is the most urgent drug threat facing our communities and the cartels are one of our greatest security threats,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge David Olesky. “The relationship between the cartels and the local street gangs and criminals groups drives the drug trade and the violence associated with it. The DEA Rocky Mountain Division has already removed nearly one million deadly doses of fentanyl pills from our communities this year and we show no signs of slowing down. Our mission includes holding the cartels responsible for the grave impact they’ve caused our communities. We are grateful to our local, state, and federal partners who join us in this important work.”
“Fentanyl in all its forms and variations is killing our children. It’s killing our families and neighbors. This is why disrupting drug trafficking organizations continues to be a top priority for FBI Denver,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark Michalek. “We have tools to go after the people responsible, and we will continue to do all we can to raise awareness and put a stop to fentanyl-related deaths and the associated suffering it brings to communities.”
“Fentanyl is deadly, and we are seeing new combinations of drugs mixed with fentanyl making it even more dangerous,” said U.S. Attorney for Colorado Cole Finegan. “Unless a drug comes from a licensed pharmacist, don’t take it—your life depends on it.”
The FBI is also closely watching the emergence of N-Pyrrolidino Etonitazene, otherwise known as Pyro. This synthetic opioid has been found in metro Denver.
The DEA, FBI, USAO, CBI, CSP, and HIDTA encourage people to use only prescription medications that were prescribed by a doctor and filled at a legitimate pharmacy within the United States. It is also important to note that legitimate pharmaceutical medications cannot be legally purchased on social media platforms.
Agencies report that they understand that mental health and addiction are ongoing concerns in their communities and report that local, state, and federal agencies will continue their work to stop the trafficking of illegal drugs; but in addition to enforcement, they also need partners in recovery and prevention to continue their important work, as well as community leaders, friends, and caregivers to help spread public awareness.
For more information and free resources, check out the One Pill Can Kill Public Awareness Campaign at www.dea.gov/onepill.
(Source: FBI Denver) / (Cover photo, Fentanyl crystal and pills, Image credit: DEA)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
