Gulf Coast HIDTA Investigative Support Network"Grey Death" in rock form
There have been two new alerts issued related to synthetic opioids. The Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area has issued an alert for a substance with the street name “Grey Death.” The substance appears similar to concrete mixing powder and varies in texture, which ranges from a chunky rock-like material to a fine powder. It is not a single drug, but typically contains several potent opioids, including whatever a drug dealer has on hand in varying proportions. It has a potency much higher than heroin and is reportedly administered via injection, ingestion, insufflation, and smoking. The analysis of each grey death sample collected in the gulf coast region so far revealed the presence of three opioids: U-47700, heroin, and fentanyl; though the amount of each drug within grey death varied from sample to sample. (See Gulf Coast HIDTA Emerging Trend Bulletin: Potent new opioid/opiate compound known as “Grey Death" (PDF, 164KB))
In addition, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) is issuing a public safety alert regarding illegal synthetic opioids that have caused more deaths in the first four months of the year than all of last year. In 2017, 17 deaths have been caused by the opioids U-47700 and/or furanyl fentanyl. U-47700 and furanyl fentanyl are both Schedule I drugs and used in the same manner as heroin. The drugs are distributed in either powder or tablet form. Furanyl fentanyl is a fentanyl analog and has been sold as a “designer” drug. (See Press release - GBI Issues Synthetic Opioids Alert)