INDIANAPOLIS — A deadly statewide drug trend is worrying local health officials. Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid a hundred times more powerful than fentanyl, and it's quickly showing up in more Indiana street drugs.

"All of these drugs are just cut with these poisons," said Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison.

Poisonous quantities of synthetic opioids infiltrating street drug supplies – it's not a new concern, but a growing one – with the rise of deadly variations like carfentanil.

"There's never been a more dangerous time in our history to be an illegal drug user," Jellison said.

The Indiana Department of Health tracks statewide carfentanil detections from syringes returned to syringe service programs as well as in toxicology results from fatal drug overdoses.

2021 through 2023 s

See Full Page