State’s attorney warns of dangerous new opioid in Lincoln County

Tom Wollman said 90 percent of county crime is driven by meth, fentanyl and cocaine

Lincoln County courthouse. (Wikipedia)

CANTON — A synthetic opioid 100 times more potent than fentanyl is emerging as part of a troubling drug crisis that now drives 90 percent of crime in Lincoln County, State's Attorney Tom Wollman told commissioners Tuesday.

“In 2002, it used to be 70 percent to 80 percent of our crime here in Lincoln County is driven by alcohol,” Wollman said during his March 25 department presentation. “As I stand here today, almost 90 percent of our crime is driven by methamphetamine and or fentanyl or cocaine.”

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, carfentanil is a synthetic opioid that is “10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl.” It was designed as a tranquilizer for elephants and other large mammals, not for human consumption.

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