District Attorney Summer Stephan said carfentanil has been detected in fake “M-30” pills in the San Diego County region.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office issued a public safety alert, warning people carfentanil has been detected in fake pills in the San Diego County region.
Carfentanil is 100 times more powerful than fentanyl, according to the DA’s office. It’s often used as a tranquilizer for large animals like elephants.
“We know its getting harder and harder to get drugs through the border and because of that it looks like the cartels are shifting,” said DA Summer Stephan.
She said carfentanil can be carried in even smaller amounts than fentanyl because it is so potent.
“It is also is not responsive to the traditional Narcan its so potent,” said DA Stephan. “Most people have just one box or two, its not enough to reverse it or save their life.”
She spoke to CBS 8 at an event at Waterfront Park Thursday, recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day, which is at the end of August.
Drug overdose deaths in San Diego
For the second straight year, the number of drug overdose deaths has dropped in San Diego County. However, there were still 945 deaths in 2024, according to the annual San Diego County Substance Use and Overdose Prevention Taskforce’s annual report card.
Thursday, purple flags lined Waterfront Park, representing each life lost.
There was a flag for Denise Barnes’ 23-year-old son, Cameron.
“He was an amazing athlete, smart, funny, all the cliches that you hear from parents when they are speaking about their loved ones,” said Barnes, who spoke to the crowd at Waterfront Park.
“He was taught right from wrong from the very beginning. He enjoyed surfing with his dad, motorcycles, lacrosse, football, wrestling, everything.”
She said in February 2024, her son was with a new friend he had just met a few weeks prior. He took a Xanax that turned out to be laced with fentanyl.
“We got a phone call, February 8. I didn’t recognize the number, so we didn’t pick it up, and the call was from the morgue, saying, that Cameron had passed away,” she said tearfully.
“Now we’re left with this, you know, devastation, and our hearts are just shattered completely. There’s no word in the dictionary that describes the pain that a mother feels when they lose their child,” she said sadly.
She shared her story to get the word out about Narcan and 911. She said the person who was with her son that tragic day gave her son Narcan, but never called for help, which she believes could have saved his life.
“I can’t stop the drugs that are coming in, or people [from] taking them, but I can try to stop the senseless accidental overdose deaths by not calling 911, please call 911,” she said.
She urges parents to know who their kids are hanging out with.
“We’re just trying to get through one day, you know, it’s just one day, seconds go by and your memories don’t stop of your child. It just kills you,” she said.
