Woman Dies From Drug Overdose In San Rafael Home: Police

SAN RAFAEL, CA – A 42-year-old woman died at a San Rafael residence over the weekend from a suspected drug overdose, and two other individuals suffering symptoms from a powerful synthetic opiod called "pinky" were sent to a hospital, according to authorities.

As the drugs involved could not readily be identified at the scene and to avoid potential exposure to law enforcement, the Marin County Hazardous Materials Team was called, the San Rafael Police Department said.

Police were called to the possible overdose Sunday at about 4:35 a.m. to a home on the 100 block of Mission Avenue.

Arriving officers administered Narcan, a nasal spray which can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose, and performed CPR, however the Richmond female did not survive and was pronounced dead, police said.

"Two other people at the scene reported using an unknown substance that was believed to be cocaine," the department said. "They also reported symptoms not consistent with cocaine use and were transported to the hospital for medical treatment."

A field test performed by the hazmat crew to identify the drug was inconclusive, police said.

Subsequent testing, using an electronic chemical analyzer, determined the substance contained “U-47700” -- an opioid analgesic, sometimes called "pinky" and reported to be nearly eight times as potent as morphine, the agency said, adding that "pinky" is associated with increased overdoses over the last few years in the United States.

Also known as “U4” or “pink,” the drug looks like a white or light-pink powder, and can be sold in plastic bags or pressed into pills to look like legal painkillers, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"This incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers of using illicit drugs," police said. "There is no way to know what you are consuming and what effects it will have."

San Rafael officers have carried Narcan in their first-aid kits since April 2017.

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