The New Hampshire Attorney General's Office is taking a zero tolerance stance on the extremely lethal opioid carfentanil, stating it will prosecute all individuals found to be in possession of the drug, according to the New Hampshire Union-Leader.
Carfentanil is suspected of contributing to a recent rise in overdoses in the state and has been linked to three overdose deaths in March.
Albert Scherr, professor at the University of New Hampshire School of Law in Durham, expressed doubt regarding the AG's office's motivations behind the move, suggesting the focus on carfentanil may be primarily motivated by public relations concerns.
"Let's see if they've got more skills than the county attorneys," said the law professor.
The extremely powerful opioid — which is 10,000 times more potent than morphine — was originally designed for use as an elephant tranquilizer, but has since infiltrated America's illegal drug trade, contributing to a rash of overdoses around the nation.
Criminal cases involving carfentanil in the state increased from three to about a dozen over the last month, according to a report from NHPR.
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