The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is currently investigating three overdoses in the Phoenix area due to the opioid U-47700, commonly referred to as "pink."
After toxicology reports linked 46 overdose deaths in 2015 and 2016 to Pink, the DEA categorized the drug as a Schedule I narcotic in November 2016. Prior to the agency's drug scheduling, pink was only illegal in Florida, Georgia, Ohio and Wyoming, according to NBC News. Overdoses related to the synthetic opioid — which is eight times more potent than heroin — have been previously undetected in Arizona.
"The discovery of the U-47700 in Maricopa County is a great concern for DEA, law enforcement and the community as the threat of opioid abuse continues to evolve," said Doug Coleman, special agent in charge of DEA in Arizona.
Among the overdoses were two men — aged 24 and 55 years respectively — from Phoenix and one 25 year old man from Mesa.
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