Dolphins In The Gulf Of Mexico Are High On Fentanyl

Posted • December 7, 2024: Fentanyl was found in the blubber of dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico by researchers from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. According to the report, an "alarming number" of bottlenose dolphins are showing up with traces of fentanyl in their system. Researchers found that more than a third of dolphins tested positive for drugs. "It’s not something we were looking for, so of course we were alarmed to find something like fentanyl, especially with the fentanyl crisis happening in the world right now," said doctoral student Makayla Guinn. "One possibility but not the only possibility is that drugs might be coming from our wastewater,” said marine biologist, Dr. Dara Orbach. "It’s likely they’re getting these pharmaceuticals in their system from eating prey. Those prey being the same fish and shrimp that we’re also eating over here, considering that the Coastal Bend is such an important fishing community, locally."