Cychlorphine Kills First LA Victim: Drug 10x Stronger Than Fentanyl Spreads to 19 States

LA County health authorities warn about cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid 10 times more potent than fentanyl, after its first local fatality. The drug has been detected in 19 states.

Synthetic Opioid Cychlorphine Claims First Los Angeles Victim

A fatality recorded in February has been linked to cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid ten times more potent than fentanyl, the Los Angeles Department of Public Health confirmed. NY Post Metro reports that LA County health authorities have now issued a formal warning about the drug, which can kill users even in small doses.

Cychlorphine belongs to the same class of synthetic opioids as fentanyl and heroin. San Francisco health officials had already tied a fatal overdose to the substance in April — the first time it was detected in that city.

The drug's presence in the United States was first recorded in 2024, and it has since been identified in 19 states. The DEA classified cychlorphine as a Schedule I controlled substance in August 2026, making possession and sale illegal.

Health officials warned that the opioid is being secretly mixed into the broader illicit drug supply, and that standard fentanyl testing strips cannot detect it. It has been found in multiple forms — liquids, rocks or crystals, powders, and counterfeit tablets designed to resemble prescription medication — making detection and avoidance especially difficult.

Authorities urged residents to never use drugs alone, to avoid mixing substances, and to carry naloxone. The medication can reverse an opioid overdose and restore breathing, county officials said.

Source: NY Post Metro