Home / Health / New Super-Opioid Cychlorphine Claims First LA Victim
New Super-Opioid Cychlorphine Claims First LA Victim
17 Oct
Summary
- Los Angeles County confirmed its first death linked to cychlorphine.
- Cychlorphine is more potent than fentanyl and undetectable by test strips.
- Naloxone, or Narcan, can reverse overdoses from cychlorphine.
Los Angeles County public health officials have issued a critical warning following the confirmation of its first death attributed to cychlorphine, a novel synthetic opioid. This substance, also known as N-propionitrile chlorphine, has infiltrated the illicit drug supply in Southern California.
Cychlorphine is reportedly more potent than fentanyl and poses an extreme danger due to its strength and inability to be detected by conventional fentanyl test strips. Officials confirmed that a death in February 2026 was caused by cychlorphine, marking its first documented presence in the local drug supply. The drug has been identified in 19 states since its discovery in the U.S. in 2024 and can appear in various forms, including powder, counterfeit pills, crystals, and liquids.
While abstaining from illicit drugs is the safest course, emergency overdose intervention is possible. Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, can effectively reverse opioid overdoses, including those caused by cychlorphine, by restoring breathing. Public health authorities advise that multiple doses may be necessary in critical situations and urge individuals to call 911 immediately during an emergency.
