Legislators Ed Rath, Lynne Dixon, Kevin Hardwick and John Mills are sponsors of a resolution calling on state lawmakers to add U-47700 (known as “Pink”) to the New York State list of controlled substances. The resolution passed unanimously during Thursday’s session. This is in support of a bill sponsored by Senator Tim Kennedy and co-sponsored by Senator Pat Gallivan, which is currently stalled in the Senate Health Committee.  The DEA has begun the process to classify Pink as a controlled substance but New York State has yet to take action.

Pink is a synthetic opioid that has been found to be especially deadly to those who try it and it is sold online under a variety of different names. Originally introduced in the 1970s as an alternative to morphine, it was never approved by the FDA and has been linked to multiple overdose deaths in the United States.

By adding Pink to the state list of controlled substances, it would criminalize possession and sale of the drug. It would be classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which is on the same level as heroin and cocaine.

“Deadly drugs have no place in our community,” said Legislator Ed Rath. “We have been fighting tirelessly against the opioid epidemic and synthetic opioids like Pink cannot slip through the cracks. It is critical that the state acts quickly to make this an illegal drug.”

"The horror of the opioid epidemic has taught us the importance of being proactive. This action seeks to curtail the use of another potentially dangerous drug,” said Legislator Kevin Hardwick.

The full resolution can be viewed here.