Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT CAN DO TO HELP.CONGRESSWOMAN ANNIE KUSTER GOT ALOOK AT SOME OF THE TOOLS THED.E.A.AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT NOWNEED EVERY DAY, TO SAFELY HANDSYNTHETIC OPIOIDS, AND CLEAN UPCLANDESTINE DRUG LAB>> THIS SUGAR PACKET YOU WOULDPUT IN A CUP OF COFFEE HAS 1000MILLIGRAMS.ONLY 2 MILLIGRAMS IS ENOUGHFENTANYL TO KILL AN INDIVIDUAL.REPORTER: THE D.E.A.REFERRING TO IT AS A WEAPON OFMASS DESTRUCTION FOR ITS IMPACT.KUSTER SAYS ITS EXPECTED TOCLAIM OVER 500 NEW HAMPSHIRELIVES THIS YEAR.>> ESSENTIALLY IT'S A DOMESTICTERRORISM TIGHT SITUATION WHEREOUR STATE IS UNDER ATTACK FROMTHIS NEW DRUG FENTANYL.REPORTER: LEADERS GETTINGBRIEFED BY THE D ON COMPOUNDSTHAT ARE QUICKLY EVOLVING.>> THINGS LIKE CAR FENTANYL ANDACETO FENTANYL.REPORTER AND AN INCREASE INCOUNTERFEIT PRESCRIPTION PAINPILLS.>> THEY ARE MADE TO LOOK LIKEPAIN PILLS.>> DO NOT PURCHASE MEDICATIONTHROUGH THE MAIL OR FROM ANYONEOTHER THAN A LICENSEDPHARMACIST, BECAUSE YOU DON'TKNOW WHAT IS IN THE PILL FORM.REPORTER: KUSTER WAS BRIEFED ONCOORDINATION BUT NOW STRETCHESBETWEEN AGENCIES AND ACROSSSTATE -- STATE LINES, TACKLING APROBLEM THAT REACHES ACROSS THEGLOBE.>> THE PRECURSORS FOR CREATINGFENTANYL COME IN FROM CHINA.THIS IS A COMPLEX ISSUE WE NEEDTO ATTACK.REPORTER: KUSTER SAYS THEBRIEFING HELPED HER UNDERSTANDWHAT CHANGES ARE NEEDED IN

Advertisement Kuster: Fentanyl is 'essentially a domestic terrorism' situation Officials warn of new fentanyl compounds, counterfeit pain pills

Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Officials are warning Granite Staters of their evolving concerns about fentanyl and new fentanyl-related compounds, including an increasing number of counterfeit pain pills that are laced with the synthetic opioid.During one of a series of closed-door briefings to keep New Hampshire’s Washington delegation up to speed with the latest challenges in the drug crisis, Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster got a look at some of the tools the Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement officials now need every day to safely handle synthetic opioids, and clean up clandestine drug labs.Special Agent Michael Ferguson showed News 9 the sugar packet pictured below and explained how using it could have deadly consequences.“This sugar packet here that you would put in a cup of coffee has 1,000 mg (of fentanyl). Only 2 mg is enough fentanyl to kill an individual,” Ferguson said.The DEA referred to fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction for its impact.Kuster said the synthetic drug is expected to claim over 500 New Hampshire lives this year.“Essentially, it's a domestic terrorism type situation, where our state is under attack from this new drug fentanyl,” she said.Leaders are getting briefed by the DEA on fentanyl-related compounds that are quickly evolving.“Things like carfentanil and acetylfentanyl and butyrylfentanyl,” Ferguson said.Ferguson also said there has been an increase in counterfeit prescription pain pills.“They're made to look like pain pills, but they are in fact fentanyl pills,” he said.“Do not purchase medication through the mail or from anyone other than a licensed pharmacist, because you don't know what is in the pill form,” Kuster said.She was briefed on coordination that now stretches between agencies and across state lines, tackling a problem that reaches across the globe to what she calls “criminal chemists.”“The precursors for creating fentanyl come in from China, so this is a complex issue that we need to attack,” Kuster said.The congresswoman said the briefing also helps her understand what changes are needed in existing law so that the DEA and all law enforcement are able to prosecute.