The synthetic opioid 10x stronger than fentanyl and popping up across states

The synthetic opioid 10x stronger than fentanyl and popping up across states

Multiple states are ringing the alarm over cychlorphine, the latest synthetic opioid pervading the U.S. illicit drug supply. Like fentanyl, most opioid addicts aren’t aware they’re taking cychlorphine when buying off the streets, but this drug is 10 times stronger. 

In East Tennessee, cychlorphine has been linked to 19 overdose deaths; the Gallia County Health Department in Ohio issued an overdose alert this week; and the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security sent out a public warning about the drug last month. 

The drug has never been approved for use in humans.

The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education (CFSRE) issued a public alert at the end of January on the spread of cychlorphine, or N-propionitrile chlorphine.  

“In vitro pharmacology data show this drug to be approximately 10x more potent than fentanyl,” the CFSRE’s alert stated. “The positivity of N-propionitrile chlorphine, specifically in fatal drug overdoses, has increased since mid-2025.”  

At the time of the CFSRE’s alert, cychlorphine had been detected in New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, Washington, Nevada and California. 

Synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, have become a pressing issue in the U.S. According to the World Health Organization, about half of all opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2019 were a result of synthetic opioids.  

Cychlorphine is not detectable through fentanyl test strips, but Narcan is still believed to be effective at treating an overdose caused by it. 

When reached for comment, the Drug Enforcement Administration said in a statement to The Hill, “In April 2024, N-propionitrile chlorphine was first reported in Florida by a DEA laboratory. Through the end of February 2026, DEA laboratories have identified this substance in 22 samples.” 

Welcome to The Hill’s Health Care newsletter, I’m Joseph Choi — every week we follow the latest moves on how Washington impacts your health.

Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.

How policy will be impacting the health care sector this week and beyond:

Food stamp recipients sue USDA over restrictions on candy, energy drinks

Recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Wednesday, challenging its food restriction waivers that reduce the types of foods that can be purchased with benefits. Represented by the National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ), a nonprofit focused on advancing justice for low-income families, five SNAP recipients from Colorado, …

Newsom fires back at Trump over post calling dyslexia ‘mental disorder’

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Wednesday went after President Trump over a post calling dyslexia a “mental disorder.” In a post on his Truth Social platform Wednesday evening, Trump said that Newsom “said, in a speech, he was dumb, had low Boards, can’t read, has dyslexia, and has a mental disorder — A Cognitive Mess!” Newsom fired back at Trump on the social platform X, saying, “I spoke about my dyslexia.” “I know that’s …

What to know about cychlorphine, the synthetic opioid 10 times stronger than fentanyl

Multiple states have raised the alarm in the past month about cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid tied to several dozen recent overdoses that is far stronger than fentanyl. Cychlorphine is part of a new class of synthetic opioids making their way into the U.S. illicit drug supply. The drug has never been approved for use in humans. Like fentanyl, cychlorphine is being mixed in with other street drugs, but it is not detectable …

Branch out with a different read:

Hawley introduces bill to remove FDA approval for Mifepristone

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) on Wednesday unveiled legislation to remove Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the use of mifepristone to end pregnancies, a bill that has quickly gained the support of major anti-abortion groups. The legislation is an ambitious undertaking given the drug’s widespread use in the United States, where an estimated 7.5 million women have used it to terminate pregnancies since the FDA approved …

Local and state headlines on health care:

NC State Health Plan won’t extend Aetna or CVS contracts, will seek bids instead (The News & Observer) 

Health spending surges past state benchmark, again (The Boston Globe) 

Colorado committee recommends rejecting alcohol, marijuana tax hike to fund mental health care (Colorado Politics) 

Health news we’ve flagged from other outlets:

Impurity in some compounded tirzepatide ‘potentially dangerous,’ Eli Lilly warns (MedPage Today) 

The FDA ad crackdown has pharma’s attention. But companies aren’t ‘radically changing course’ — yet (Endpoints News) 

Momentum builds for a federal office of men’s health focused on disease prevention (Stat) 

Opinions related to health submitted to The Hill:

The new SNAP retailer rule falls short — but we can still fix it

How Vance and Oz can fix Medicaid fraud

You’re all caught up. See you tomorrow! 

Thank you for signing up!

Subscribe to more newsletters here

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

More Health Care Newsletter News

Hegseth orders ‘ruthless, no-excuses’ review of military legal offices

Democrats block bill to reopen Homeland Security amid 27-day shutdown

Trump: ‘When oil prices go up, we make a lot of money’

Military commanders given deadline to remove Anthropic products from systems

Republicans block Democratic bill to fund DHS agencies other than ICE, CBP

Gas price surge over Iran hits Americans already struggling with affordability

Lawmaker who accused Trump of Kennedy Center snub missed invite in spam folder

A mega-deal to end the war

Landmark housing bill overwhelmingly passes Senate, faces uncertain future in ...

Leavitt pushes back against report of FBI warning of Iran threat to California

Blue states sue Trump administration over new race-based reporting requirements ...

Scott Kelly rips White House over ‘Undefeated’ Iran war video: ‘Some big ...

Iran’s new leader issues first statement: Strait of Hormuz must remain closed ...

What to know about the SAVE America Act, Trump’s No. 1 legislative priority

Key takeaways from Tuesday’s elections: Georgia, Mississippi, New Hampshire

Live updates: Senate fails to advance DHS funding; Iranian leader vows Strait ...

GOP senators warn Trump that shaky economy could spell election disaster

New details emerge on Trump tariff refunds

© The Hill