United States: One of the lethal combinations of substances has been found to be circulating in the Central New York region, thus warranting a Public Health Alert.
More about the news
Two swab samples collected in two different bags labeled “Super Mario” were taken on May 20 and analyzed on June 6.
Fentanyl, xylazine, and tiny quantities of both heroin and a drug known as Carfentanil were identified, the powerful concoction to be up to 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
A third such sample is being tested by ACR Health, a community partner of the New York State Department of Health Drug Checking Program in Syracuse.
What are the statements made by the officials?
According to Dr. James McDonald, the State Health Commissioner, “Carfentanil is a veterinary drug that is no longer marketed because it is so dangerous. The Department partners with community programs that provide access to drug checking so these dangerous substances are identified before they are used by a person who uses drugs and risks overdose,” as cnycentral.com reported.
“Our Drug Checking Program at ACR Health was able to quickly identify this dangerous substance and continues to be vital to our harm reduction and public health surveillance efforts and connecting people who use drugs with resources and support,” he continued.
More about Carfentanil
Carfentanil would, therefore, be part of opioids that were man-made, which is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl.
It is used primarily as an antidote for elephants and any other big animal that is known to be dangerous.
The users of the substance said it calms them down or “knocks them out.”
It was estimated that the sample was associated with ‘serious injury’ treated in the emergency ward, with wounds reported to have occurred within 2-3 weeks of use, as cnycentral.com reported.
The use of these substances in combination amplifies the potential for people to have a chance to have toxicity and experience aspects such as overdose, blackouts, prolonged respiratory depression, and possibly skin damage. Those people who had prior knowledge of the two ingredients are also in danger of taking an overdose.
Even though it included a deleterious combination and labeled the bags ‘Super Mario,’ the State Health Department said anyone should be cautious with any substance not yet banned, no matter what brand it comes in.