Gray death

Gray death is a slang term which refers to a potent mixture of synthetic opioids, for example benzimidazole opioids or fentanyl analogues, often sold on the street as a proven substance. However, other substances such as stimulants have also been laced with opioids that resulted in deaths.

Etymology

The first batch of gray death had a characteristic gray color.[1]

Detected samples

Samples have been found to contain heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil, and the designer drug U-47700.[2] A mixture of drugs misleadingly called 2C-B had been laced with fentanyl in Argentina.[3]

Deaths

In February 2022, 20 people in Argentina died after using cocaine cut with carfentanil.[4]

Dangers

As with other illicit narcotics, gray death carries a higher risk of serious adverse effects than prescribed opioids due to the unknown and inconsistent composition of the product.[5] As such, even experienced opioid users risk serious injury or death when taking this drug mixture.[6]

Treatment

Reversing a gray death overdose may require multiple doses of naloxone. By contrast, an overdose from morphine or from high-purity heroin would ordinarily need only one dose.[5] This difficulty is regularly encountered when treating overdoses of high-affinity opioids in the fentanyl chemical family or with buprenorphine. The greater affinity of these substances for the μ-opioid receptor impedes the activity of naloxone, which is an antagonist at the receptor. Increasing the dosage of naloxone or its frequency of administration may be required to counteract respiratory depression.

History

The substance first appeared in America and was thought to be a unique chemical compound before being identified as a mixture of drugs.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Gray Death Drug Addiction in Ohio: What You Need to Know - GTBH Ohio". Georgetown Behavioral Hospital. 15 July 2021.
  2. Lehman, Pamela. "Bethlehem police find first case of deadly drug known as 'gray death'".
  3. "Fentanyl and 2CB, Worrying New Cocktail on Colombia's Party Circuit". InSight Crime. 20 July 2021.
  4. "Cocaína 'envenenada' que causou mortes na Argentina tinha anestésico para elefantes". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese).
  5. Welsh-Huggins, Andrew (8 May 2017). "A dangerous mix of opioids called 'gray death' is causing overdoses in parts of the US". Associated Press. Retrieved 5 April 2019 – via Business Insider.
  6. Patterson, Eric. "Gray Death: The New Killer on the Street". Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  7. Nedelman, Michael (13 May 2017). "'Grey death': A powerful new street drug". CNN. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
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