Animal tranquilizer blamed for 2 Beaver County overdose deaths

The drug is so powerful that one touch can kill you.

Officials feared it would come to the area, and now, the so-called “elephant drug” is to blame for two fatal overdoses in Beaver County.

The tranquilizer carfentanil is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine -- strong enough to take down a 1,200-pound animal. It can also be fatal if someone gets it on their skin, in their mouth or in their eyes, Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer said.

When using the tranquilizer on animals, zoo officials work in pairs and are completely covered in protective gear. Because people are using the highly fatal drug for recreation, Gabauer is urging all first responders to wear gloves and masks to protect themselves.

“A tiny grain of sand. That's all that needs to be left behind to cause a first responder or someone in the house to overdose or die,” Gabauer said.

He is now providing gloves and masks for all of his employees and is urging anyone in the medical field to do the same.

“This is a dangerous drug with deadly consequences,” he said. “We need to protect ourselves.”

The overdoses in Beaver County were the first in the Pittsburgh area. The first was reported in Beaver Falls and the second occurred in New Brighton.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, carfentanil hit the Ohio area late last year with Akron seeing 30 deaths.

Gabauer said a person who overdoses on carfentanil will take two or three Narcan doses to revive the person. Paramedics only carry a few doses at a time.

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