U-47700: A deadly U4 Drug You Need to Know About

Synthetic Opiates are used in medicine, but there are some that have never even been used in pharmacies or hospitals, and U-4477 is one of these. Originally developed in the 1970’s, this U-4 drug was studied in animals and found to be seven times more potent than morphine. For whatever reason, this compound is currently being created and marketed illegally across the globe. This U4 Pink drug is dangerous, unregulated, and deadly.

The synthetic opioid U-447700 is better known by the street names Pink or Pinky due to the powders’ light pink color. Other names for this compound are U4, or Fake Morphine. The drug is sold as a powder or as a pressed tablet and can be used orally, intravenously, or by inhalation.

The U4 drug is an opiate and therefore acts as any opiate does. It can give the user euphoria and pain reduction. For example, one U-47700 user told Rolling Stone that the drug made him feel “non-overbearing rushes of comfort, warmth, and laziness” that made him want to “lay in a cozy spot and watch a movie.” While this “high” may seem pleasant and innocent enough, U-47700 is extremely dangerous and can even be fatal. Using U4 also carries the same risks as using any other opiate, including respiratory depression that can lead to death. Regular use of Pink will create dependence and stopping use of this or any other opiate drug will result in withdrawal symptoms.

Like most illicit substances, Pink or U4 comes from illegal channels. This drug is sold in powder or tablet forms, sometimes mixed in with heroin or other drugs, often pressed into pills that look like regular oxycodone pills. This is dangerous, as Pink is much more potent than oxycodone, and using this drug at the same level could be fatal.

It’s also important to note that because it can be made to look like pharmacy pills, many U4 users may not even realize they’re taking it. In one especially high-profile example, AP News reported that U4 was found mixed in pills with other opioids in Prince’s estate after his death.

It’s suspected that this drug compound is created in illegal labs in China and then sent to the United states and elsewhere. People are able to order Pink on the internet from shady sources. The drug is often marketed on these websites as a “research chemical”. Users who know what they are doing can easily source this drug and this is causing U4 to spread dangerously all over the world.

While this compound was originally created as a legal drug, it was never actually sold or used in the United States. In 2016 the DEA placed U4 into Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. Schedule 1 substances are those that the government has decided have no acceptable medical use and a high potential for abuse. Other schedule 1 substances include Peyote, LSD, and Ecstasy.

All Schedule 1 substances, including U4, are illegal to possess, sell, or use in the United States. Of course, people will always find a way to circumvent laws, and that’s why we’re seeing an increase of U-447700 use, overdose, and deaths now.

The side effects of U-47700 are quite similar to those of other opioids such as heroin or fentanyl. Some effects, such as euphoria, sedation, and relaxation, are what make up the drug’s appeal to users.  However, the full list of potential negative side effects show the dangers involved in using U4.  Abusing this drug can cause numbness, constipation, pinpoint pupils, itching, seizures, psychosis, addiction, overdose, and respiratory depression. Both respiratory depression and overdose can be fatal.

There have been no studies done to scientifically investigate how this drug works on humans, but animal studies and anecdotal evidence shows that this drug has a strong ability to create tolerance in people who use it. This tolerance appears to be stronger than other well-known opiates, in that the tolerance remains high even after periods of abstinence. This means that sustained use will require more and more of the drug over time. It also means that withdrawal symptoms can come about even after just one use of Pink.

If you or someone you know is struggling with U-47700 or other opioids, you should seek help. Here at Hawaii Island Recovery, we treat opioid addiction with medically supervised detox, evidence-based therapies (such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), experiential therapies, and a 12-step program. Suffering from the effects of U4 is unnecessary, and help is available.