HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Fentanyl and carfentanil are both powerful synthetic opioids that pose a risk on the streets.
First synthesized in the 1960s, Fentanyl was intended as a pain medication. Its use expanded in the 1990s with the introduction of patches, lollipops, sprays and dissolving tablets.
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Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine. Carfentanil is 100 times more potent than Fentanyl, making it roughly 10,000 times the potency of morphine.
Created as a anesthetic for large animals such as elephants, even a small amount of carfentanil can kill thousands of people.
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