Police in Washington State are concerned about a new drug mixture. While not new in the US, ‘gray death’ has lately emerged in the state.
Last week, East Wenatchee police arrested a man with fentanyl, methamphetamine, and the ‘gray death’. 800 fentanyl tablets, 50 grams of methamphetamine, and 2 ounces of the mysterious drug were seized.
The U.S. drug scene has known about ‘gray death’ since 2017. Even small dosages of its composition are deadly. This fatal cocktail usually contains heroin and synthetic opioids, although the exact ingredients vary. U-47700 (Pink), Fentanyl, and Carfentanil are synthetic opioids linked to gray death.
The 1970s-developed Upjohn Company drug U-47700 is 7.5 times more powerful than morphine and can cause respiratory depression and high heart rate. It is available online as a research chemical’ without FDA permission.
Fentanyl, one of the most dangerous illicit narcotics, is 50–100 times stronger than morphine. Originally meant for advanced cancer pain treatment, its illegal variants have caused several overdose deaths.
Carfentanil, the most deadly synthetic opioid, is 10,000 times stronger than morphine and used to tranquilize animals. An ordinary elephant may be knocked out by 2 milligrams of Carfentanil.
Due to its lethality, ‘gray death’ may be the deadliest street drug. Its potency makes even little dosages lethal, emphasizing the need to solve this rising catastrophe.
As police deal with this current drug threat, the public is asked to be watchful, highlighting the ever-changing difficulties of illicit drug trafficking and usage.
