Ohio reports alarming uptick in deadly synthetic opioids, including carfentanil

IF CONVICTED. ALL RIGHT. IT IS 508 AND WE ARE LEARNING ABOUT NEW EFFORTS TO HELP THE OPIOID CRISIS IN KENTUCKY. $5 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY IS GOING TO SUPPORT RESEARCH AND NEW WAYS TO FIGHT THE STATE OF ADDICTION. AND WLWT NEWS FIVE’S NICOLE APONTE JOINS US LIVE FROM THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY HEALTH DEPARTMENT. AND, NICOLE, THEY SAY THAT THIS MONEY COULD GO A LONG WAY. MEGAN AND KELLY, THIS FUNDING IS MEANT TO GO TOWARDS FOR PROFIT AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE OF KENTUCKY. NOW, GOVERNMENT ENTITIES LIKE CITIES AND COUNTIES CAN ALSO APPLY. THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WORKS REALLY CLOSELY WITH THESE GROUPS ON OPIOID PREVENTION AND SOLUTION, SPECIFICALLY, THE HARM REDUCTION PROGRAM OFFERED HERE HELPS TO IDENTIFY STRATEGIES, ACTIVITIES, AND POLICY INITIATIVES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SAYS MANY OF THESE GROUPS USUALLY STICK WITH STRATEGIES BACKED BY RESEARCH, AND WHAT THEY KNOW WORKS. THIS $5 MILLION GRANT WILL MAKE STRIDES FOR NEW SOLUTIONS TO COME TO THE TABLE. THEY DON’T HAVE A LOT OF TIME AND RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO KIND OF VENTURE OUT OF THAT KIND OF PLAYBOOK, OF WHAT WE KNOW IS GOING TO HELP REDUCE OUR OVERDOSES AND KEEP PEOPLE ALIVE. SO I DO THINK THAT THIS WILL CREATE THAT OPPORTUNITY WHERE IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA THAT, YOU KNOW, HAS SOME SCIENCE BEHIND IT, THAT YOU’RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO IMPLEMENT THAT AND THEN SHOW SOME EFFECTIVENESS HERE. THE STATE OF KENTUCKY HAS ALREADY AWARDED $85 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY TO 130 ORGANIZATIONS TO HELP FIGHT THE OPIOID CRISIS. THAT APPLICATION FOR THIS GRANT MONEY WILL OPEN ON JULY 1ST. REPORTING LIV

Updated: 7:52 PM EDT Oct 22, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Updated: 7:52 PM EDT Oct 22, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

A dangerous drug believed to be about 100 times more potent than fentanyl is being seized at an increased rate in Ohio.According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is reporting a continued rise in drug seizures involving carfentanil and other deadly synthetic opioids.So far in 2025, BCI forensic scientists have identified carfentanil in 199 items that were submitted to the bureau’s laboratory for testing.A deadly synthetic opioid, carfentanil is about 100 times more potent than fentanyl and about 10,000 times more potent than morphine, according to Yost.Carfentanil is not approved for human use and has been used by veterinarians to anesthetize elephants and other large animals.“The amateur chemists who create these deadly drug combinations don’t care if you live or die,” Yost said. “Here’s the deal: If you take drugs that weren’t prescribed by your doctor, you risk lethal exposure to synthetic opioids.”Carfentanil can be found alone or in complex mixtures with fentanyl, xylazine and other opioids. It can come as a powder, liquid or be compressed into solid materials and tablets.Additionally, Ohio BCI recently identified a new opioid compound in Ohio, N-propionitrile chlorphine, also known as cychlorphine. It is a rare synthetic opioid with effects similar to fentanyl.The drug was seized at the scene of an overdose in Fairfield.

CINCINNATI —

A dangerous drug believed to be about 100 times more potent than fentanyl is being seized at an increased rate in Ohio.

According to Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation is reporting a continued rise in drug seizures involving carfentanil and other deadly synthetic opioids.

So far in 2025, BCI forensic scientists have identified carfentanil in 199 items that were submitted to the bureau’s laboratory for testing.

A deadly synthetic opioid, carfentanil is about 100 times more potent than fentanyl and about 10,000 times more potent than morphine, according to Yost.

Carfentanil is not approved for human use and has been used by veterinarians to anesthetize elephants and other large animals.

“The amateur chemists who create these deadly drug combinations don’t care if you live or die,” Yost said. “Here’s the deal: If you take drugs that weren’t prescribed by your doctor, you risk lethal exposure to synthetic opioids.”

Carfentanil can be found alone or in complex mixtures with fentanyl, xylazine and other opioids. It can come as a powder, liquid or be compressed into solid materials and tablets.

Additionally, Ohio BCI recently identified a new opioid compound in Ohio, N-propionitrile chlorphine, also known as cychlorphine. It is a rare synthetic opioid with effects similar to fentanyl.

The drug was seized at the scene of an overdose in Fairfield.

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Ohio reports alarming uptick in deadly synthetic opioids, including carfentanil

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