It is the first time that a rare and dangerous drug has been found in eastern North Carolina.
Bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, or BTMPS, is a chemical that is used in industry to do things like stop UV light in plastic and candles. Now, it’s starting to show up in powder and pill form in illegal drugs.
Senior Scientist Nabarun Dasgupta works at the UNC Hill Street Drug Analysis Lab. The drug was recently found in a sample from Edgecombe County and was identified by a test there.
“This stuff is very strange,” Dasgupta said. “This doesn’t really fit with what we think ends up in the dirty drug supply.”