(KRON) — A first carfentanil overdose death ever recorded in Santa Clara County was confirmed by a medical examiner on Wednesday.

The victim was a 39-year-old man who was found dead with counterfeit M30 pills, the Santa Clara County Office of the Medical Examiner said. The pills were manufactured to look like oxycodone.

Instead of oxycodone, the pills contained carfentanil — a tranquilizer that is used for elephants and other large mammals, according to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration officials. Carfentanil is not approved for human consumption, health officials warned.

“Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. The presence of carfentanil in illicit U.S. drug markets is cause for concern, as the relative strength of this drug could lead to an increase in overdoses and overdose-related deaths,” DEA officials wrote.

Most opioid pills sold by drug dealers on the street are fake and made to look like real prescription medications that come in different types, shapes, and colors, county health officials said.

“Using drugs alone increases the risk of death. We urge people to avoid the dangers of opioids, especially fake pills that may contain carfentanil or fentanyl,” said Dr. Michelle Jorden, Santa Clara County Chief Medical Examiner. “Fake pills look real, but they can be deadly. People should not take any pill that they did not buy from the pharmacy.”

The victim’s name was not released.

People should call 911 immediately if they encounter someone who is unresponsive and administer Narcan, also known as naloxone, health officials said.
“We believe that every life matters and no one should die of an overdose. We reach the community with tools like the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, drug test strips, and help getting into treatment when someone is ready,” said Dr. Akanksha Vaidya, assistant health officer of Harm Reduction Program.