DEA received reports of at least 46 confirmed fatalities associated with U-47700  31 of those fatalities occurred in New York and 10 in North Carolina.

U-47700 is a novel synthetic opioid, and its abuse parallels that of heroin, prescription opioids, and other novel opioids.  Law enforcement agencies report seizures of the drug in powder form and counterfeit tablets that mimic pharmaceutical opioids.  Abuse of the drug often happens unknowingly to the user, and is encountered as a single substance as well as in combination with other drugs such as heroin andfentanyl . Some bags are marked with stamped logos, imitating a heroin sale. In addition, the drug can be pressed into pill format and marketed as a wide variety of prescription opioids. Because substances like U-47700 are often manufactured in illicit labs overseas, the identity, purity, and quantity are unknown, creating a “Russian Roulette” scenario for any user.