TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – University of Arizona health officials are warning students about cychlorphine, a new synthetic opioid recently discovered in California’s drug supply.
The drug is more potent than fentanyl and is responsible for dozens of fatal overdoses across the country.
Deaths reported in California and Nevada
THE White House Office of National Drug Control Policy issued a warning in April saying the drug had been found in the illicit drug supply and had recently been implicated in fatal overdoses in California and Nevada.
“What concerns us is that these drugs are coming into Arizona through the illicit drug trade and getting into activities that they shouldn’t be in,” said Jack Boylan, captain of public information and outreach for the University of Arizona Emergency Medical Services.
EMS has published a public health alert about cychlorphine on Wednesday, September 23, warning students of the drug’s presence in California.
“We often look at substance abuse issues as the main reason we’re sent out and we either have to administer Narcan or we have to get people to the hospital for monitoring and supervision. So we want to make sure that’s not something they encounter and possibly react in the wrong way,” Boylan said.
Narcan remains effective
Boylan said they also need to address allegations that Narcan, used to reverse the effects of an overdose, is not effective against the drug.
“That’s not true; Narcan is used for any type of opioid,” said Aditya Rohilla, president of the Team Awareness Combatting Overdoses club on campus.
Rohilla said Narcan is still effective but may require multiple doses.
“A lot of people only carry one to two doses of Narcan, and sometimes that’s not enough for this medication,” Rohilla said.
Rohilla’s organization placed Narcan in every AED practice on campus and worked alongside EMS to educate students about medication safety.
“Not only do we provide people with the necessary supplies in the event of an overdose, but we also educate them on what these medications are, what their effects are and how to use them safely,” Rohilla said.
Boylan said despite concerns about cyclophine entering the state, they are doing what they can to prepare students before its arrival.
“All we can ask is that people be informed, stay informed, seek out new information and know where they can find Narcan on campus,” Boylan said.
Narcan is available free of charge at all AED offices on the University of Alberta campus, as well as all pharmacies and libraries in Pima County.
To see where Narcan is available near you, go HERE.
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