10K times more potent than morphine: First carfentanil death confirmed in Wisconsin

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee County medical examiner confirmed Wisconsin's first carfentanil death on Monday morning, April 17th.

Officials say carfentanil, known as an elephant tranquilizer, a synthetic opioid, is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times more potent than heroin.

"It certainly is concerning. It's generally used in large mammals for sedation. It could clandestinely be manufactured," Sara Schreiber with the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said.

Officials with the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office indicated the victim is 48-year-old James Kinnee. The report says Kinnee was reported dead on March 22nd.

The medical examiner's report indicates Kinnee was found dead in a work acquaintance's apartment. The report indicates a broken crack pipe was found in the home.

"If the user doesn't know they have that in their mixture, they are at risk," Schreiber said.

As this investigation continues, Schreiber said the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office is seeing a spike in fentanyl-related deaths.

"Last year we saw almost a three-fold increase in the number of cases related to fentanyl or that included fentanyl in the decedent at the time they died. We're definitely on a fast pace already this year," Schreiber said.

Schreiber said carfentanil is often mixed with a heroin product to increase the potency and any concoction can come with a dangerous cost.

"When you buy things off the street, there is an inherent risk that you don't know what you are using," Schreiber said.

In 2016, there were 97 fentanyl-related deaths in Milwaukee County. This year, we're already at 26 deaths as of April 17th.

The DEA released the below statement:

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