The following was posted by Captain Phil Kirk of the Park City Police Department on his Twitter feed.
Fatal Overdoses from Synthetic Opioid -- U-47700 -- in Utah
U-47700 (Also Known as “Pink” or “Pinky”): Extremely Dangerous Drug Appearing in Park City
Park City, UT -- Park City Police Department and Park City School District jointly issue a community-wide alert about the synthetic research drug U-47700. Two fatal overdoses in Utah (Salt Lake County and Iron County) have already been attributed to U-47700. The drug is commonly known as “pink” or “pinky.”
Utah Statewide Information & Analysis Center says, “The synthetic opioid… is growing in popularity with recreational drug users throughout the United States…[and] is readily available for purchase on the internet; primarily from Chinese suppliers.” Because this drug is so new -- it is not yet illegal to purchase.
At this point, it is known that the substance is extremely toxic, even in small doses. If you believe you have encountered the drug, contact your local law enforcement agency immediately and do not touch the substance with bare hands.
WHAT TO DO:
• Talk with your child about the extreme danger involved with ingesting this drug in any dosage and in any form
• Search your child’s belongings
• Request a locker search at school
• If you think your child may be in possession of U-47700, call local law enforcement immediately
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
• White powder (can look like baby powder, pictures at bottom of next page)
• Can also come in liquid form; watch for dropper bottles and (sometimes empty) nasal inhalers
• Unmarked “stealth” delivery boxes - in some cases, these may have hand-written labels
• Boxes, vials or plastic baggies labeled “Not for Human Consumption” or “For Research Purposes Only”
• Side effects (reported from individuals who have used the substance):
o Analgesia (inability to feel pain)
o Sedation
o Euphoria
o Constipation
o Itching
o Respiratory depression (occurs when ventilation is inadequate)
WHERE TO LOOK:
• Search belongings (backpacks, purses, containers)
• It is has been located in writing pen tubes, gum containers, etc.
• Pay attention to any packages being shipped to your house, especially anything shipped from Asian countries
• Search your child’s belongings: it is NOT yet an illegal substance, your child may very well have it in his/her possession without thinking they are doing something dangerous
• Search web browser history; purchases may be made from sites including but not limited to:
o MrChemistry.com
o Best-Feel.com
o BestRCS.com
o Chinglabs.com
o TopChems4me.com
o Buy-RCS.com
BACKGROUND:
In early 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) documented approximately 30 overdose incidents related to U-47700 within the United States. U-47700 had been an emerging threat along the eastern United States for several months. While these are the first confirmed reports of U-47700 in Utah, it is likely the presence of the drug will continue to rise within the state.
One of the challenges posed by this drug is that it is not currently scheduled as a controlled substance in the United States. Deaths have also been reported in Europe, and U-47700 is now illegal in both Sweden and Finland. It remains unregulated elsewhere; and, it is still easy to find online.
MORE INFORMATION:
The dangers of U-47700 are just coming to light, so not much is known at this point. We will continue to keep you informed as we learn more about this issue, and Park City School District will host a community drug awareness forum in the coming weeks. Please feel free to contact the following people with questions or concerns:
• Captain Phil Kirk, Park City Police Department: pkirk@parkcity.org
• Dr. Ember Conley, Superintendent of Park City School District: econley@pcschools.us
• Molly Miller, Community Relations for Park City School District: mmiller@pcschools.us
• Statewide Information & Analysis Center (SIAC): SIAC@utah.gov
