Health officials in Riverside County have confirmed the county’s first death linked to carfentanil, a synthetic opioid considered 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine.
The victim, a man in his 40s, died in March 2025 outside Riverside County, officials said in a news release.
The cause of death was confirmed after a months-long investigation by Riverside University Health System.
“Every life lost from opioids is one too many,” Dr. Jennifer Chevinsky, Riverside County’s public health officer, said in a statement. “Together, we can continue to raise awareness about the risks associated with drug use and work as a community to support safety, reduce harm and care for one another,
Originally developed as a tranquilizer for large animals such as elephants, carfentanil is so potent that even trace amounts can be lethal, Chevinsky added.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a sharp rise in overdose deaths involving carfentanil, increasing from 29 in the first half of 2023 to 238 in the same period of 2024.
Still, Riverside County experienced a 25% decline in opioid-related deaths in 2024. Officials credit increased public awareness, widespread distribution of naloxone, and collaborative harm reduction strategies for the progress.
Officials encourages residents to carry naloxone, which is available without a prescription at many pharmacies and local public health offices.
The agency also recommends using services such as Never Use Alone, a national overdose response program.
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