AUGUSTA, Maine - The power synthetic opiate carfentanil has claimed its first victim in Maine.
The state Attorney General's office says the death occurred in April in York County, and resulted from acute toxicity from the drug.
"Carfentanil is an extremely potent and dangerous drug which is more powerful than heroin itself," says Johnathan Nathan, the drug task force coordinator for the AG's office. "It's an elephant-based tranquilizer."
In fact, Carfentanil is 5,000 times more powerful than heroin, and 100 times more powerful than the synthetic opioid fentanyl. Even brief skin exposure can be dangerous to humans.
The Maine Attorney General's office is not releasing the name of the victim or further details for privacy reasons.
Maine set a record for drug deaths in 2016, with an average of more than one death a day.
