WISCONSIN

Wisconsin board outlaws synthetic opioid U-47700

Associated Press

U-47700 was developed in the mid-1970s as a painkiller. The drug is eight times more potent than morphine and has been linked to at least 50 deaths nationwide.

Madison — Wisconsin’s Controlled Substances Board has outlawed a synthetic opioid known as U-47700, just weeks before a federal agency is expected to do so.

The board banned the drug on Tuesday. Rep. John Nygren’s office said the move came at the request of Wisconsin district attorneys. The Marinette Republican, whose daughter has waged a high-profile battle with heroin addiction, has written 17 laws to combat prescription drug and heroin abuse.

A spokeswoman for the board didn’t immediately return messages.

U-47700 was developed in the mid-1970s as a painkiller. The drug is eight times more potent than morphine and has been linked to at least 50 deaths nationwide, including the April death of music icon Prince. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued notice earlier this month that it intends to outlaw the drug effective in early October.