Officials warn about ultra-potent opioid cychlorphine spreading in street drugs
Health officials say the synthetic opioid cychlorphine, up to ten times stronger than fentanyl, is appearing in various illicit drugs and can be fatal in tiny amounts.
Authorities are raising alarms about cychlorphine, an opioid estimated to be ten times more potent than fentanyl, which can cause death even in minuscule doses. In April, San Francisco health officials confirmed a fatal overdose tied to the drug, the first such case recorded in the city. Since 2024, cychlorphine has been identified in the illicit drug supply of 19 states and was placed on the Schedule I list in August 2026, prohibiting its possession and sale.
The compound can be hidden in liquids, rocks, crystals, powders and counterfeit tablets that mimic prescription medicines, and it evades detection by common fentanyl testing strips. Officials warn that its presence across multiple drug types complicates user safety, urging people not to use drugs alone, avoid mixing substances, and to carry naloxone, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
Why it matters
The drug's extreme potency and stealthy presence raise overdose risks for users nationwide.
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