Fentanyl Still Deadliest but New Synthetic Illicit Drug On DEA, FDLE Radar

Even though fentanyl is still the nation's deadliest illicit drug, a new synthetic substance is on the DEA and Florida State Attorney's radar.

Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody says America loses 200 people a day to fentanyl and 17 a day in Florida.

DEA Southeast Laboratory Director Allen Catterton says he has recognized the synthetic cathinone coming into the agency's lab over the past five years.

"We get tons of samples poisoned with so many things. You never know what you're going to get," says Catterton.

But now, the Florida Medical Examiner’s Commission says deaths from synthetic stimulants or cathinones are up 100% throughout the state.

The manmade cathinones include Dimethylpentylone which mimics cocaine, methamphetamine and ecstasy, according to Dr. Randy Katz, Chief of Emergency medicine for Memorial Hospitals.

In South Florid alone, at least 118 people died last year from or with Pentylone in their system. Most of the deaths occurred in Miami Dade County according to the FDLE.

Dr. Katz says the drug can cause hallucinations, increased heart rate, seizures, chest pains and violent behavior similar to other stimulants.

Other synthetic cathinones, known as bath salts or Flakka were rampant in South Florida in 2010 and caused people to act out bizarrely and violently.

If you are struggling with a drug addiction, AG Moody says contact Treatment Atlas.org for help.