Author: Joe Tracey, Way Out West Coalition

The Next Deadly Wave in a Fentanyl-Fueled Crisis

Most people have now heard of fentanyl — and far too many have experienced its devastating impact firsthand. Here in Arizona and across the nation, fentanyl has torn through communities with staggering force. It’s 100 times more powerful than morphine and has become the deadliest drug America has ever faced.

From 2021 through late 2024, fentanyl was responsible for an estimated 236,000 lives lost. But the numbers alone don’t capture the full weight of its destruction. Behind every statistic is a grieving family, a broken future, a circle of friends asking “why?”

There has been a glimmer of hope: after reaching a record high of over 112,600 overdose deaths in 2022, the numbers have started to decline. Public health responses, wider access to Narcan, and education efforts have helped bend the curve — and for that, we should be thankful.

But here’s the hard truth: this epidemic is far from over.

Just when we began to see signs of progress, the DEA issued a new and chilling warning — the resurgence of carfentanil, an opioid so powerful it defies comprehension.

Originally developed as a tranquilizer for elephants and other large mammals, carfentanil is 10,000 times stronger than morphine, and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. For comparison: just .02 milligrams — smaller than a grain of salt — can cause an overdose in a full-grown adult.

This drug is not intended for human use. Period.

Yet here it is — showing up in counterfeit pills and street drugs across the country, often without the user’s knowledge. It’s being pressed into pills that look just like Xanax, Percocet, or Oxycodone. What someone thinks is a “pharma-grade” painkiller could actually be lethal poison.

The statistics are alarming:

• In 2023, just 29 deaths were linked to carfentanil in the first half of the year.
• By the first half of 2024, that number skyrocketed to 238 deaths — a sevenfold increase, according to the CDC.
• Carfentanil has now been detected in at least 37 states.

Here in Arizona, the DEA’s Phoenix Field Division recently reported that 70% of the 1 million carfentanil pills seized statewide in the past year were recovered in just the last month alone.

Let that sink in: More carfentanil is flooding our streets right now than we’ve seen in years.

And it’s not just the volume — it’s how it’s being distributed. In 2024, most carfentanil seizures were in pill form, not powder. That’s a major shift, and a terrifying one.

Counterfeit pills look identical to legitimate medications. But unlike pharmaceutical-grade drugs, these street pills have no quality control — and no mercy. A single pill can contain enough carfentanil to kill multiple people.

One Pill. One Choice. One Life.

Let’s make this real.

Think of a teenager — maybe your own, or someone in your neighborhood. They make a mistake. Maybe they’re stressed. Maybe they want to fit in. Maybe they’re just curious.

They buy pills from someone on social media. Or a friend offers them something at a party. They’re told it’s just a “Perc” or a “bar.” They’ve heard of fentanyl, sure — but this doesn’t look dangerous.

So, they take the pill.

And…they never wake up.

This Is Why We Must Talk!

That story happens every day. And every time, someone says, “I never thought it would happen to us.”

That’s why I’m writing this. That’s why I’m asking you — as a parent, a coach, a teacher, a friend — to have the conversation.

One five-minute conversation could be the difference between life and death.

Talk about the risks of taking pills that didn’t come from a pharmacy. Talk about fentanyl. Talk about carfentanil. Talk about how it only takes one pill.

And most importantly, talk about how no one’s life should end from one mistake.

The Conversation Is Hard — But It’s Worth It

Too many families have faced the unthinkable: planning funerals instead of graduations.

We don’t need to add to that number.

We need to get ahead of this wave — to protect our kids, our communities, and each other.

Start the conversation. Share this article. Carry Narcan. Stay informed.

Because carfentanil is real. It’s here. And it does not give second chances.

New Meeting Location and Time

Our new meeting space is at William L. Patena Community Center, 8335 W Jefferson St., Peoria, AZ 85345.

We will be meeting here every third Wednesday from 10:30 AM–11:30 AM, excluding June & July as usual.

Peoria's 2024 G.A.I.N Night was a huge success! We were able to distribute Narcan and educational resources to many families.