Congressman Torres Urges Action on Carfentanil Crisis as NYC Faces Growing Overdose Deaths

On Wednesday, August 14th, Congressman Ritchie Torres called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to address the growing presence of carfentanil, a synthetic opioid significantly stronger than fentanyl, in New York City. Carfentanil, used as an elephant tranquilizer, has been linked to at least seven fatal overdoses in the city in the first half of 2024, nearly doubling the death toll from the previous year.

In a letter to the CDC, Torres emphasized the extreme danger posed by carfentanil, noting that it is “100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times more potent than heroin.” The Bronx representative warned that even the smallest amounts of carfentanil could exponentially worsen the ongoing opioid crisis. He urged the CDC to enhance public health surveillance, improve detection technologies, and provide clear data on the national impact of carfentanil.

Torres also pressed the DEA to take decisive action to disrupt the supply chains bringing carfentanil into New York. In recent months, local health officials detected the drug in eight samples of street opioids, some of which also contained medetomidine, another potent veterinary anesthetic. The DEA has been urged to increase its efforts in tracing and shutting down the sources of these dangerous substances.

The alarming rise of carfentanil in New York comes amid a broader public health crisis driven by synthetic opioids. Fentanyl, often mixed with other drugs, has been a leading cause of overdose deaths across the United States, and the introduction of even more potent substances like carfentanil could have catastrophic consequences. In response, Torres is advocating for stronger federal intervention to prevent further loss of life.

Local health authorities have expressed concern that standard drug-checking technologies, such as fentanyl test strips, are often ineffective at detecting carfentanil. This has led to calls for more advanced methods of identifying and managing the risks associated with this deadly drug. The situation is further complicated by the presence of other dangerous substances, such as xylazine and medetomidine, which cannot be countered by traditional opioid antidotes like naloxone.

As New York City grapples with the escalating opioid crisis, Torres’s appeal for federal support highlights the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat the spread of carfentanil and other lethal drugs. The coming months will be critical as federal agencies respond to this growing threat, with the potential to influence public health policy on a national scale.