Bloomington police attribute couple's deaths to new opioid drug meant for veterinary use

The 21-year-old woman and her 25-year-old fiance died after snorting a new-to-the-streets drug, police say, an opioid analgesic known as U-47700.

The chemical name for the powder substance is trans-3,4-dichloro-N-(2-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl)-N-methyl-benzamide, a compound patented by Upjohn in the 1970s. It contains potent pain-killing properties nearly eight times as strong as morphine.

It is made for veterinary use, as a tranquilizer, and never was intended for humans.

But anyone with internet shopping savvy and a credit card can buy it online, where 250 milligrams costs about $40 and a gram can be purchased for $125. The source is often China; this advice and warning — grammar and punctuation mistakes included — accompany one online sales source:

“Phenomenal product, very fast shipping and spectacular customer service!!!! FRIGHTENINGLY POTENT!!! Cut off at least 50% dosage for searching!!! Because of the very high quality! Notice it again: Dont for human use!”