Board outlaws sale and possession of “W-18”,“U-47700” and Fentanyl Analogues Portland — The Oregon Board of Pharmacy has voted to ban sale and possession of dangerous synthetic opioids and fentanyl analogues known on the street as W-18, U-47700, etc. the Board’s Executive Director announced. Rules were filed and effective with the Secretary of State on August 22, 2016.
The action came after initial research by the Board’s staff and the Oregon State Police Forensics Lab and others contacting the Board to report that use of such substances and overdose deaths associated with their use are on the rise both nationally and in Oregon.
By adding the illicit synthetic opioids and fentanyl analogue chemicals to Schedule I of the Oregon list of controlled substances (pursuant to ORS 475.035), the Board gives law enforcement the authority needed to prosecute the sale and possession of these substances under the Oregon Uniform Controlled Substances Act. This proactive change will reduce and prevent unnecessary overdose and death of Oregon citizens.
"These underground designer drugs have been created to evade our laws, and have recently been causing numerous overdose deaths on the East Coast," said Rob Bovett,
Legal Counsel for the Association of Oregon Counties. "This important action by the
Board will help insulate Oregon from some of that human tragedy."
“Fentanyl and its derivatives are extremely potent opioid drugs. The potential for overdosing is many times higher than heroin or other opioids such as oxycodone. Fentanyl derivatives have no therapeutic value and therefore should be classified as Schedule I drugs,” said Dr. Karen Gunson the State Medical Examiner.
Information is available on the Board of Pharmacy’s website at www.pharmacy.state.or.us.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2016/04/30/w-18-the-high-potency-research-chemical-making-news-what-it-is-and-what-it-isnt/#596f4dfe2354
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/0530-amazon-but-for-deadly-drugs-why-fentanyl-and-w-18-are-here-to-stay
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/11/synthetic-opiates-drug-laws-w-18-fentanyl
http://articles.philly.com/2016-05-25/news/73318625_1_naloxone-narcan-tainted-heroin
