MDHHS urges actions to help save lives, prevent fatal overdoses
LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is warning Michigan residents about carfentanil, a potent fentanyl alteration that is reemerging in the unregulated drug supply and contributing to overdose deaths.
Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid. It is approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. Carfentanil was developed for veterinary use with large animals and is not approved for use in humans.
“Carfentanil is an extremely potent and deadly drug,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “We’re urging people who use unregulated drugs – and their loved ones – to carry naloxone, an easy to administer nasal spray that can reverse opioid overdoses and save lives. Awareness and quick action can help save lives.”
Between January and June 2025, 11 deaths involving carfentanil were identified. The deaths occurred in Ingham, Livingston, Eaton, Genesee, Oakland and Wayne counties. None of the deaths were positive for carfentanil alone; 10 individuals also tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl was found in eight cases.
Tags: Carfentanil Overdose Safety Alert
