NEW ORLEANS — Marking the first death caused by "Purple Heroin" in Louisiana, officials said the drug, also known as Brorphine, killed its first La. victim in Jefferson Parish.
A press release from the Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office said the synthetic opioid is just as potent and dangerous as Fentanyl, making it 100 times more potent than morphine.
Commonly packaged as purple, gray, or white crystals or powder, "Purple Heroin" can cause widespread harm, making officials concerned about its impact on public health.
Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich, the Jefferson Parish Coroner, signed the release.
"There have been approximately 30 deaths linked to Brorphine in the U.S., and this is the first one reported in Louisiana," Cvitanovich said. "The public should be on full alert due to the extreme danger of this drug."
The new drug consists of a synthetic opioid and acetaminophen, a commonly used treatment for fevers and pain, the Associated Press reported.
Brorphine is a strong synthetic opioid, but it is not a duplicate of fentanyl, Michigan Poison Center's director, Varun Vohra, told the Associated press. It is not authorized for any medical uses nor easily discernable in normal hospital blood tests.
This is a developing story, and it will be updated with the latest information available. Stick with WWLTV.com for the latest news.
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