Dangerous New Pink Drug: Warning and Effects

Learn more about the dangerous side effects of the new pink drug, or U-47700, and available treatment options.

Table of Contents

What is Pink Drug?

Officially called U-47700, pink drug, also known by the street names “Pinky” or “U4”, is an extremely potent, synthetic opioid drug. Synthetic drugs do not occur naturally in nature but rather are manufactured in a lab. The composition of the pink drug and official chemical designation is 3,4-dichloro-N-[2-dimethylamino) cyclohexyl]-N-methylbenzamide. 1
Pink Drug

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What is U-47700?

U-47700 is a relatively new synthetic opioid drug that has recently made its way to the United States. It was created in the 1970s by The Upjohn Company, but it never received approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

As there was never approval gained by the FDA, there is no official pink medicine or formal name for the drug. It is only commonly known by its chemical composition, U-47700, or its street name. U-47700, or “pink,” was classified as a Schedule I substance by the Drug Enforcement Association in November of 2016. 2

How Dangerous is Pink Drug?

As pink drug is a synthetic opioid, it is considered to be extremely potent. The biggest danger associated with pink drug is that even a small amount of it can cause overdose and even death. Pink drug is thought to be at least eight times more potent than morphine. Between 2015 and 2016, the DEA reported at least forty-six deaths associated with the pink drug. 3

Synthetic opioids like pink have an extremely high potential for abuse, dependency, and addiction due to triggering the release of endorphins, the good-feeling neurotransmitters. The longer you take opioids, the more your brain slows the production of endorphins, causing you to increase the dose of the opioid to achieve the same effect. This is an example of how you can become dependent on the drug, which can develop into a severe addiction.

Signs of Pink Drug Addiction

Other signs of addiction to pink may include: 4
  • Continuing substance use despite negative consequences
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when no longer using the substance
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
  • Spending a great deal of time finding, obtaining, and using the substance
  • Negative impact on relationships
  • Being unable to stop using the substance
  • Negatively impacted obligations, such as work or school
  • Giving up social activities in order to use

Risks and Side Effects

Aside from pink drug addiction, some of the pink drug effects to be aware of are:
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Respiratory arrest

How Pink Drug Is Abused

Pink drug is most commonly found and used in powder form. It typically appears as a white or light pink powder with a chalky consistency. It gets its name from method of use, as the drug is often snorted from the pinky nail.
Pink pill drugs can also be found as the substance is pressed into pill form in order to look like legal painkillers. Pink square pills or pink capsule pills are common forms the drug takes to mimic legal medications. Prior to the DEA classifying pink as a Schedule I substance, it could be purchased online and would sometimes come in small plastic bags with labels such as “not for human consumption” or “for research purposes only.”

Consumption Methods

Like heroin and other opioids, pink opioids can be swallowed, snorted, or injected. Unlike heroin, pink crystal drugs have not become a common form the substance has taken. Its most common form is powder, followed by pill form. Pink may also be found in, either knowingly or unknowingly, other drugs bought on the street, such as heroin.

What Are the Effects of the Pink Drug?

U-47700 is abused for its opioid and narcotic-like effects. The effects of pink drug are similar to other opioids. These can include:
  • Mood changes: Individuals can experience severe changes in mood, including depression, agitation, and irritability.
  • Difficulty breathing: Since drugs such as opioids can repress respiration, the use of pink pill drugs can result in difficulty breathing.
  • Persistent itchiness: This is a common symptom for opioid-like substances such as heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone.
  • Stomach conditions: Opioids can cause gastrointestinal conditions like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  • Addiction and drug dependency: Pink is a highly addictive opioid medication that often causes abuse, dependency, and addiction.
  • Psychosis: Pink has been associated with increased psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations.
  • Pulmonary edema: Medical reviews have noted that individuals who died of a U-47700 overdose showed signs of pulmonary edema, or excess fluid in the lungs.
  • Heart failure: Opioids can increase the risk of heart disease and heart failure.
  • Overdose and death: Synthetic drugs possess a higher rate of overdose and death. Currently, there seems to be little information on the strength of pink; however, evidence indicates that even small amounts can be fatal.
Pink has been shown to react to the opioid agonist, naloxone (Narcan), to help reverse the effects of overdose. If you believe you have overdosed on pink or other opioids, seek medical assistance immediately.

Does Pink Drug Show Up on Drug Tests?

Currently, U-47700 is not included in standard drug tests. However, labs can identify pink using special analytical techniques such as gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 5

Get Help for Drug Addiction at Profound Treatment

With the increase in synthetic opioids like pink pills, drug addiction is becoming more widespread. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, Profound Treatment can help. Profound offers detox and inpatient services using a variety of treatment modalities for individualized treatment and care.

At Profound, we treat the whole person and provide a safe and supportive environment to begin your recovery journey. For more information about pink drug or treatment, contact Profound at 310.929.9546, email [email protected], or visit our website https://profoundtreatment.com/contact-us/.