NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A powerful new synthetic opioid, believed to be more potent than fentanyl, has been linked to dozens of recent deaths in the United States, prompting warnings from health authorities.
Tennessee was an early hot spot, with the state health department announcing in March that more than 30 fatal overdoses had been linked to cyclophine since October 2025.
An April 2026 advisory from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy cited at least 41 deaths in Tennessee between July 2025 and February 2026 and at least 55 deaths nationally.
KRATOM INDUSTRY WARNS SYNTHETIC OPIOIDS SHOULD NOT BE CALLED “KRATOM”
Fatal overdoses have also been reported in Illinois, California and Oklahoma, according to public health and law enforcement records.
A powerful new synthetic opioid, believed to be more potent than fentanyl, has been linked to dozens of recent deaths in the United States. (iStock)
“Cyclophine is particularly dangerous because of its concentration, where a very small amount can prevent someone from breathing,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in its advisory.
Nicholas Kardaras, Ph.D., CEO and clinical director of the New York Center for Living in Manhattan and clinical professor at Stony Brook Medicine’s School of Social Welfare, called cychlorphine “the new fentanyl on steroids.”
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT PENTOBARBITAL AFTER A DEATH TERM INMATE SURVIVES 2 DEADLY INJECTION DOSES
Cychlorphin is a new, unregulated synthetic opioid that activates the same receptors as fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. This can cause profound sedation, slowing or stopping of breathing, or even death.
The drug is not approved for medical use and has been detected in illicit drugs and counterfeit pills.
Younger people may be at greater risk, as some are more likely to experiment with medications or buy counterfeit pills. (iStock)
Kardaras called cychlorphine “one of the most powerful synthetic opioids” now appearing in the illicit drug supply.
“Fentanyl is about 50 times more potent than morphine or heroin,” he told Fox News Digital. “Cyclophine is reportedly up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl – so in theory, about 500 times more potent than morphine or heroin.”
“This new synthetic drug makes fentanyl look like yesterday’s candy.”
DR DREW PINSKY REVEALS RED FLAG IN PRESLEY GERBER ADDICTION TREATMENT BEFORE MODEL’S DEATH
Cychlorphin is taken in various forms: People can ingest it as a pill, snort it as a powder, or crush it and administer it intravenously, according to Kardaras.
“The problem is that in addition to its potency, it is often used in other designer drugs and counterfeit pills,” he warned.
“It’s a constant battle to keep up with the latest iterations of new drugs.”
While some people seek out cychlorphine for its potency, others may unknowingly ingest it when mixed with other substances.
“Sometimes by talking about the potency of some of these substances, we unfortunately reinforce their appeal to some addicts,” Kardaras said.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Although cychlorphine is primarily a street drug, it can also be purchased online or through “designer drug stores”, according to the expert.
Cychlorphine can cause a fatal overdose in anyone, regardless of age. Kardaras said younger people could face greater exposure because some are more likely to experiment with drugs or buy counterfeit pills.
While some people seek out cychlorphine for its potency, others may unknowingly ingest it when mixed with other substances. (iStock)
“They buy something online … and all of a sudden, unknowingly, they ingest fentanyl or another synthetic opioid,” he said.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Naloxone, commonly sold under the brand name Narcan, can reverse the opioid effects of cychlorphin, but multiple or prolonged doses may be necessary.
“What once required one or two doses of Narcan to reverse an overdose may now require five or six doses, based on anecdotal evidence,” Kardaras said.
Another major problem with cychlorphine is that standard fentanyl test strips and routine hospital opioid urine tests do not detect it. (iStock)
The DEA advises people to administer naloxone immediately, call 911 and be prepared to administer additional doses.
Another major problem with cychlorphine is that standard fentanyl test strips and routine hospital opioid urine tests do not detect it.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
“Most drug tests have very specific chemical structures that they detect in any type of synthetic or non-synthetic drug, and this news has not yet been incorporated into current test strips,” Kardaras noted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
The takeaway, he says, is that cychlorphine can be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, is not detected by standard fentanyl test strips or routine hospital opioid urine tests, and can require several doses of naloxone to reverse.
“So it’s a triple whammy,” he said. “It’s a constant battle to keep up with the latest iterations of new drugs.”
Gn Health
