Synthetic Opioid Cychlorphine Is Spreading Through the U.S. Drug Supply — Here’s What to Know
Learn how the emerging synthetic opioid is up to 10 times as potent as fentanyl, has been linked to dozens of deaths, and can be difficult to detect with routine drug tests.
Synthetic opioid cychlorphine is gaining traction across North America, prompting alarm among law enforcement and healthcare professionals. Since its initial discovery in the U.S. in 2024, cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid ten times more potent than fentanyl, has been identified in a growing number of drug samples. This potent substance has been detected in all four U.S. Census regions and has been linked to at least 55 deaths between 2025 and 2026, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).
Cychlorphine, a laboratory-made opioid, operates in the brain and body similarly to natural opioids like morphine and codeine by attaching to opioid receptors that block pain signals. However, its potency surpasses that of natural opioids, posing a heightened risk of respiratory depression and overdose. Despite its strength, cychlorphine remains undetectable through standard drug test strips and urine screens.
The synthetic opioid has been found alone, mixed with other opioids such as fentanyl or oxycodone, or combined with common stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine. Its prevalence surged over 100 times in drug samples across 10 states by the close of 2025, with Ohio, Texas, and Tennessee experiencing the highest rates.
Experts caution that cychlorphine is especially dangerous when mixed into counterfeit pills designed to mimic prescription medications. Individuals, particularly teenagers, are increasingly aware of the risks associated with fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, with knowledge rising from 27 percent in 2021 to 65 percent among teenagers today. However, fewer than half of teenagers recognize pills from trusted sources as hazardous, contrasting sharply with the nearly 90 percent who view pills from strangers as risky.
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