Wisconsin Board Bans Synthetic Opiod

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's Controlled Substances Board has outlawed a synthetic opiod known as U-47700.

The board decided Tuesday to ban the drug. According to a board news release, it will become illegal on Nov. 7.

Rep. John Nygren's office said the move came at the request of Wisconsin district attorneys. Nygren has written 17 different 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. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued notice earlier this month than it intends to outlaw the drug effective in early October.