A powerful synthetic opioid believed to be significantly stronger than fentanyl has been linked to its first confirmed overdose death in Los Angeles County, prompting an urgent warning from public health officials.
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opioid → believe → officials
The drug, known as cychlorphine, can stop a person from breathing even in extremely small quantities and may be lurking undetected in illegal drugs, authorities warned Thursday.
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authorities → know → drugs
Making the substance particularly dangerous, standard fentanyl testing strips cannot detect it, meaning people could unknowingly consume the opioid without realizing they have been exposed.
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they → make → opioid
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed that a fatal overdose in February marked the first verified detection of cychlorphine in the county's illicit drug supply.
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overdose → confirm → supply
The discovery has raised concerns about the potential spread of another highly potent opioid as communities across the United States continue to grapple with drug overdose deaths.
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communities → raise → deaths
Deadly drug can evade standard fentanyl tests
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drug → evade → tests
Cychlorphine, chemically known as N-propionitrile chlorphine, is a synthetic opioid capable of causing severe respiratory depression, a potentially fatal condition in which breathing becomes dangerously slow or stops altogether.
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breathing → know → which
Health officials say the drug is substantially more potent than fentanyl, although they have not provided a precise comparison of its strength.
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they → say → strength
Unlike fentanyl, cychlorphine cannot be identified using conventional fentanyl test strips, creating an additional challenge for people attempting to determine whether illegal substances have been contaminated.
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substances → identify → people
The drug can be mixed into other illicit substances without a person's knowledge, increasing the risk of an accidental overdose.
Combining cychlorphine with alcohol, prescription opioids, sedatives or other drugs can make an overdose even more dangerous.
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overdose → mix → alcohol
The substance has been discovered in several forms, including powders, counterfeit prescription pills, liquids and rock-like crystals.
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substance → discover → powders
Powerful opioid has already appeared in 19 states
Cychlorphine was first identified in the illicit US drug market in 2024 and has since been detected in 19 states, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Another death associated with the substance was recorded in Northern California in April.
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death → appear → April
Although detections have been more common elsewhere in the country, Los Angeles health authorities say they are closely monitoring the local drug supply for evidence that cychlorphine is becoming more widespread.
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cychlorphine → say → evidence
In August, the Drug Enforcement Administration placed the substance in Schedule I, a category of controlled drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.
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Administration → place → abuse
The Food and Drug Administration has never approved cychlorphine for medical treatment.
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Administration → approve → treatment
"The safest course of action is to avoid using illicit substances, given the possibility of the presence of cychlorphine," county health officials warned.
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officials → avoid → cychlorphine
Health officials warn multiple doses of overdose antidote may be needed
Despite the drug's extreme potency, health authorities stressed that naloxone, the medication used to reverse opioid overdoses, can also work against cychlorphine.
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naloxone → warn → cychlorphine
However, multiple doses may be necessary to restore breathing.
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doses → restore → breathing
Officials urged people who may encounter opioids to carry naloxone, commonly available as a nasal spray or injectable medication.
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who → urge → spray
Anyone who suspects an overdose should immediately call 911, administer naloxone and follow emergency responders' instructions.
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who → suspect → instructions
Because conventional fentanyl strips cannot detect cychlorphine, Los Angeles County residents can also access free drug checking specifically designed to identify the substance.
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residents → detect → substance
The service, available through drugcheckingla.com, can provide results in approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
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service → provide → minutes
People seeking treatment for substance use disorders can access resources through SUDHelpLA.org and RecoverLA.org or call the county's Substance Abuse Service Helpline at 800-854-7771.
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People → seek → 7771
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