Last Updated: February 13, 2023

By: DanceSafe Staff

DanceSafe has received information from a Volunteer in the Twin Cities area regarding a substance that is assumed to be “Pink” (U-47700) based on reported effects & visual examination of the pinkish white powder–note, no reagent testing was done on the substance, as the reagents cannot test for Pink yet. According to Erowid, Pink is a short-acting synthetic opioid analgesic that first became available through online vendors in late 2014. It has a short history of human use and has been detected in counterfeit pharmaceutical opioids. It has also been associated with overdose deaths.

According to service providers in a local Twin Cities harm reduction organization, the substance they believe to be Pink is testing positive for fentanyl and is showing up all throughout Minneapolis/St. Paul. The mobile harm reduction crew in the area had a handful of positive tests and has reported 11 overdoses today, September 13, and a dozen yesterday. The crew has also stated that the opioid substance is so strong, it is taking 5-6 doses of Narcan (Naloxone) to reverse.

Fentanyl and various fentanyl analogs are highly potent synthetic opioids between fifty and many hundreds of times stronger than heroin. Many people have died from overdose after consuming counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl, and more recently, fentanyl-laced cocaine, meth and MDMA, and other drugs.

We urge our community to keep in mind that drug markets are expansive and these substances may appear in locations other than the submission’s origins. Always test before you ingest! This instance demonstrates the importance of using both reagents and fentanyl test strips when conducting drug checking for all substances. This also serves as a reminder of the importance of carrying naloxone, which can save lives by reversing opiate-related overdoses. Remember, fentanyl and its analogues are lethal at small doses. Learn more about how to use fentanyl test strips here.

If you test a misrepresented substance, please submit it to testit@dancesafe.org so we can help spread the information in a #TestIt Alert.

Since 1998, DanceSafe has been keeping the electronic music and nightlife communities safe. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we provide free harm reduction services at music festivals and nightlife events across the nation. All proceeds from the sales of our drug checking kits go back into the organization so we can continue to provide our services in our communities for free. By purchasing a kit, you are not only helping keep you and your friends safe, you are also contributing to the harm reduction movement. Thank you for your support!