Akron police said it’s been a chaotic and overwhelming month since an elephant sedative surfaced in the drug market.
“It’s mass chaos,” said Akron police Detective Mike Schmidt.
Detective Tim Harvey agreed.
“With the introduction of carfentanil to the drug market, we’re facing something we’ve never faced before,” Harvey said, referring to the heroinlike elephant sedative.
Harvey and Schmidt are the only officers assigned to investigate the 79 overdose cases in Akron this year.
They said they’d never heard of carfentanil before it appeared in Akron. Unfortunately, a drug that promises such a potent high is desirable to addicts, even though it’s deadly.
“They’re asking for the animal drug,” Schmidt said. “When you’ve been using long enough, your tolerance builds up — and this is the only stuff that will give someone a high or make them feel something.”
Such a powerful drug would be expected to leave a trail, but police said the investigation into where it’s coming from is complicated because so many of the addicts die after using it.
“And the people who do know something may not want to give up the supply,” Schmidt said.
Some arrests have been made, but they involve street-level and midlevel drug dealers. No higher-up dealers have been arrested. That said, police suspect carfentanil is coming into Akron from China.
“We have suspicions, but nothing solid,” Harvey said.
Harvey said a serious question for authorities to consider is whether carfentanil is a passing fad or the next big drug. Harvey guessed it’s probably here to stay.
“I hope it’s not, but I have a feeling it’s going to be around awhile,” he said. “I hope I’m wrong.”
Nick Glunt can be reached at 330-996-3565 or nglunt@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @NickGluntABJ and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ngfalcon.