COLUMBUS, Ind. — Law enforcement and health officials are saying substances like U-47700 and carfentanil, are the cause of several overdoses and at least three deaths. A 52-year-old woman died from a heroin-carfentanil cocktail and a Bloomington couple died after ingesting U-47700.
U-47700 was patented by Upjohn in the 1970s to be used as an animal tranquilizer, but was never approved for any use by the government. The unapproved compound is illegally produced and sold on the internet. Carfentanil is the most potent, commercially-used opioid and is not intended for human use. The drug is a schedule II narcotic in the United States and is only available by prescription. Its typical use is to tranquilize large animals.
State representative Milo Smith is drafting legislation to make unapproved substances like U-47700 illegal. During the next Indiana General Assembly Smith will present the bill, and if passed, could be signed by the governor in April 2017.
