INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Health is reporting a significant increase in the detection of carfentanil, an extremely potent synthetic opioid, across the state.
Carfentanil, which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl, has a lethal dose of just 0.02 mg. Initially developed for veterinary use in large animals like elephants, the drug is a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S.
Carfentanil is not approved for any human use due to its overwhelming potency and high risk of fatal overdose. The emergence of carfentanil in the illicit drug market has worsened the opioid crisis, as it is often mixed into heroin, cocaine, and other substances without the user’s knowledge.
The substance has been increasingly found in lab findings from syringes returned to syringe service programs (SSPs) and in toxicology results from people who died of a drug overdose in Indiana. The increase in positive results began in 2024 and has continued to rise. So far in 2025, Indiana has seen 26 carfentanil detections in overdose toxicology results, which has already surpassed the 24 detections reported for the entirety of 2024. SSP data show a similar trend, with 246 detections to date in 2025, exceeding the 138 detections in all of 2024.
To combat the rise in overdoses, the Indiana Department of Health recommends several safety measures, including using fentanyl test strips, not using drugs alone, and having an overdose plan. In the event of an overdose, it is recommended to call 911 and administer an opioid reversal agent such as naloxone. Due to the potency of carfentanil, more than one dose of naloxone may be required.
Naloxone is available without a prescription to all Indiana residents under a standing order signed by State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver. It can be purchased at pharmacies as an over-the-counter medication.
