Gray death is the name given to a new street drug that began showing up in certain regions at the end of 2016 and early 2017. It contains a blend of opioid substances (such as heroin, fentanyl, and U-47700, or “Pink”). Combinations vary between samples and are typically so strong that they can cause immediate death by overdose—not only among drug users but in anyone who touches the substance, such as first responders. The name of the drug comes from:
Its color. Gray death is a color that is often compared to cement or concrete. The substance can be found in a variety of textures and sizes. It can appear in larger rock-like chunks or as a gray powder substance.
Its power. Even in minuscule doses or with minimal contact, the effects of the drug are serious and can include immediate overdose.
Experts are struggling to understand what this drug is exactly. Reports of gray heroin have been made since 2012, but it was different from the formulations seen today. One of the most frightening things about gray death is that the formulation differs from one batch to the next. In fact, 50 samples gathered in Georgia in the first half of 2017 show tremendous variation.5 People testing and studying samples of this new heroin drug are often mystified by its contents and appearance and struggle to explain the substance’s signature gray color. This new drug has appeared in several states in the eastern part of the country, including Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
What Drugs Are in Gray Death?
Although there is no set or standardized recipe used to create gray death, several opioids are likely to be found in a sample. They include:
- Heroin. Many samples of gray death will contain at least some heroin. The opioid substance produces a strong and rapid, euphoric high. One of the greatest risks of heroin use is that it can slow or completely stop the user’s breathing.1
- Fentanyl. Primarily used to manage cancer pain, fentanyl is extremely powerful. It is 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroin.8,9 An amount as small as 0.25 mg can be lethal when consumed.10 Some fentanyl is diverted from legal prescriptions, with a growing amount of the drug being produced illegally, called “illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF)” or “non-pharmaceutical fentanyl (NPF).” 9
- Carfentanil. As a synthetic opioid that is used as a tranquilizer for large animals like elephants, carfentanil is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times stronger than morphine.8
- U-47700 (Pink). Pink has no approved use for humans, but it can be purchased in large amounts online as a “research chemical.” This substance is abused for its heroin-like effects and has caused numerous overdoses across the country.
