Dangerous Drug Carfentanil Blamed in 5 Minnesota Overdoses

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Authorities in Minnesota say the dangerous drug carfentanil
is to blame for five recent overdose deaths.

Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that's 10,000 times more potent than morphine
and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. According to information from the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration, carfentanil is often disguised as heroin and
has been blamed in recent overdoses around the country.

The five Minnesota overdoses happened in Minneapolis, Apple Valley and
Faribault.

Faribault Police Capt. Neal Pederson says his department and others were
notified Wednesday that their victims had carfentanil in their systems. The
Faribault victim was a 43-year-old woman who overdosed Feb. 14, and Pederson
says it's the first carfentanil overdose his city has seen.

Authorities are planning to release more information at a Thursday news
conference.