Nisha Pandey

Health and Me

10 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl: Officials Say This Opioid Has Now Been Detected Across Every Region Of The US

A powerful synthetic opioid that is described to be up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl is spreading through the US illicit drug supply, raising concerns about a new and deadly driver of overdoses.

According to a drug threat notice from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the drug, cychlorphine, has now been detected in every region of the United States, . It was particularly prevalent in Ohio, Texas and Tennessee.

At least 55 deaths were linked to cychlorphine in 2025 and 2026, according to the federal warning. Tennessee has recorded the largest number of confirmed deaths so far. The number of drug samples containing the opioid also increased sharply, from just one in 2024 to 106 samples from 10 states in 2025. 

<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/us-teens-death-sparks-warning-over-synthetic-drug-deadlier-than-fentanyl-article-156171749" data-type="tilCustomLink">Cychlorphine</a> is a synthetic opioid, meaning it is manufactured chemically rather than derived directly from the opium poppy.

Belonging to a growing group of highly potent synthetic opioids, cychlorphine has crept up in the illicit drug supply in the US in the last few years. ONDCP says that cychlorphine could be “up to ten times more potent than fentanyl”. 

Fentanyl is already notorious for being an extremely powerful opioid. Cychlorphine adds another layer of risk to an illicit drug supply that is already difficult to predict.

Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful opioid. The CDC says illegally manufactured <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/could-nitazenes-be-the-next-opioid-threat-pushing-europe-toward-a-public-health-crisis-article-152443350" data-type="tilCustomLink">fentanyl</a> is about 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Cychlorphine may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the ONDCP.

That level of potency means the difference between an amount that produces an opioid effect and an amount that causes a fatal overdose can be extremely small.

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/21-in-80-weeks-lancet-study-finds-lillys-retatrutide-delivers-one-of-the-biggest-weight-losses-ever-article-156249026" data-type="tilCustomLink">21% In 80 Weeks: Lancet Study Finds Lilly’s Retatrutide Delivers One Of The Biggest Weight Losses Ever</a>

Cychlorphine can be mixed into other drugs or pressed into counterfeit prescription pills, meaning someone may believe they are taking a familiar medication when the tablet actually contains a much more <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/zombie-drug-medetomidine-spotted-in-heroin-supply-raises-concern-as-it-could-evade-overdose-antidote-article-156195422" data-type="tilCustomLink">powerful opioid</a>.

Powerful synthetic opioids can be mixed into other drugs or pressed into counterfeit pills. The DEA has similarly warned that nitazenes, another class of potent synthetic opioids, are being mixed with fentanyl, heroin and counterfeit prescription pills.

Fentanyl test strips do not detect cychlorphine, so a negative fentanyl test does not mean a drug is free from cychlorphine. "Cychlorphine is not detected by drug test strips or in routine hospital opioid urine screens," ONDCP warned.

This also means that deaths from the drug are likely being underestimated, according to the Journal of Pain Research. The author, Robert Raffa, professor emeritus at Temple University's School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, confirmed the drug is detected in a specialized lab.

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The New York Times reported that multiple doses of <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/what-is-the-zombie-drug-xylazine-thats-incapacitating-people-in-us-canada-and-other-places-article-151005759" data-type="tilCustomLink">Narcan</a> may be needed to reverse cychlorphine's effects, while people responding to an overdose may have only one or two doses available.

ONDCP has warned that anyone who might respond to an overdose should be ready with extra doses of naloxone (Narcan), a drug that helps reverse opioid overdoses. But response to these extremely potent synthetic opioids can be complicated.

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A powerful synthetic opioid that is described to be up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl is spreading through the US illicit drug supply, raising concerns about a new and deadly driver of overdoses.According to a drug threat notice from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the drug, cychlorphine, has now been detected in every region of the United States, . It was particularly prevalent in Ohio, Texas and Tennessee.At least 55 deaths were linked to cychlorphine in 2025 and 2026, according to the federal warning. Tennessee has recorded the largest number of confirmed deaths so far. The number of drug samples containing the opioid also increased sharply, from just one in 2024 to 106 samples from 10 states in 2025. All About CychlorphineCychlorphine is a synthetic opioid, meaning it is manufactured chemically rather than derived directly from the opium poppy. Belonging to a growing group of highly potent synthetic opioids, cychlorphine has crept up in the illicit drug supply in the US in the last few years. ONDCP says that cychlorphine could be “up to ten times more potent than fentanyl”. Fentanyl is already notorious for being an extremely powerful opioid. Cychlorphine adds another layer of risk to an illicit drug supply that is already difficult to predict.Fentanyl is an incredibly powerful opioid. The CDC says illegally manufactured fentanyl is about 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Cychlorphine may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the ONDCP.That level of potency means the difference between an amount that produces an opioid effect and an amount that causes a fatal overdose can be extremely small.Also read: 21% In 80 Weeks: Lancet Study Finds Lilly’s Retatrutide Delivers One Of The Biggest Weight Losses EverCychlorphine Is Hard To Detect Cychlorphine can be mixed into other drugs or pressed into counterfeit prescription pills, meaning someone may believe they are taking a familiar medication when the tablet actually contains a much more powerful opioid.Powerful synthetic opioids can be mixed into other drugs or pressed into counterfeit pills. The DEA has similarly warned that nitazenes, another class of potent synthetic opioids, are being mixed with fentanyl, heroin and counterfeit prescription pills.Fentanyl test strips do not detect cychlorphine, so a negative fentanyl test does not mean a drug is free from cychlorphine. "Cychlorphine is not detected by drug test strips or in routine hospital opioid urine screens," ONDCP warned.This also means that deaths from the drug are likely being underestimated, according to the Journal of Pain Research. The author, Robert Raffa, professor emeritus at Temple University's School of Pharmacy in Philadelphia, confirmed the drug is detected in a specialized lab.         ONDCP Warns The New York Times reported that multiple doses of Narcan may be needed to reverse cychlorphine's effects, while people responding to an overdose may have only one or two doses available.ONDCP has warned that anyone who might respond to an overdose should be ready with extra doses of naloxone (Narcan), a drug that helps reverse opioid overdoses. But response to these extremely potent synthetic opioids can be complicated.

10 times stronger than fentanyl: officials say this opioid has now been detected across every region of the us

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10 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl: Officials Say This Opioid Has Now Been Detected Across Every Region Of The US

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Health Conditions A-Z

Cholera Deaths Hit Highest Level Since 1999: 7 Countries Drive 90% Of Global Toll In 2025

10 Times Stronger Than Fentanyl: Officials Say This Opioid Has Now Been Detected Across Every Region Of The US

21% In 80 Weeks: Lancet Study Finds Lilly’s Retatrutide Delivers One Of The Biggest Weight Losses Ever