Manchester first responders tackling increased use of elephant tranquilizer carfentanil

MANCHESTER, N.H. — A new drug, more powerful than fentanyl, is responsible for three deaths in New Hampshire.

The drug called carfentanil is commonly used as an elephant tranquilizer and is 1,000 times more powerful than morphine. It has first responders extremely concerned.

Two of the victims are from Manchester, the city which has become the epicenter of the new crisis. There were two confirmed deaths from carfentanil in March and at least two suspected in April. The drug is just as dangerous for the users, as it is for those who try to save them.

“If you accidentally bump into something, put your arm down in something that you don't recognize right away, you could be the next victim,” said Chris Hickey, Manchester EMS Director.

Hickey called an emergency training session for Manchester firefighters less than 24 hours after learning drugs in the city tested positive for the synthetic opiate, carfentanil.

“It’s the first time carfentanil has been seen on the east coast.”

State health officials say the drug was created in the 70s as an elephant tranquilizer. Now, it's being cut into heroin and other drugs and sold in Manchester.

“We worry about our guys at every fire. To me, this is worse than a fire,” said Hickey.

Manchester medic and fire crews will now take extra precautions by having an extra man on each overdose call, when possible, to act as oversight for first responder safety, and to help their own in case they suffer an overdose from being exposed to carfentanil.

“We take our lives into our hands to try and help those in need, and we could end up being affected by this quite drastically,” said Hickey.

If one of the first responders is exposed and suffers an overdose, crews will have to give them narcan, along with the overdose victim. State health officials say they’re worried first responders won’t have enough narcan in their stockpiles.

Cox Media Group