New Synthetic Opioid Cychlorphine Detected in Kentucky
Published 2:18 pm Tuesday, February 24, 2026
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security is warning first responders, health care providers and the public about the detection of a powerful synthetic opioid known as cychlorphine in central Kentucky.
In a public safety advisory, the agency stated cychlorphine is “approximately ten times stronger than fentanyl” and has been linked to overdose deaths in neighboring regions, including eastern Tennessee. Officials cautioned that the substance is frequently mixed with other illegal narcotics, placing users at extreme risk of unintentional exposure.
The advisory stated, “Its (cychlorphine) presence is expected to expand to additional areas within the Commonwealth.”
Guidance for First Responders and Law Enforcement
Authorities urged first responders and law enforcement personnel to exercise extreme caution when handling unknown substances, use appropriate personal protective equipment, and treat all suspected cychlorphine-related overdoses as medical emergencies. The agency also called on officials to immediately report confirmed or suspected cases to local public safety authorities.
Limited Public Information Available
Reports of cychlorphine have surfaced beyond Kentucky. However, there is very limited information publicly available about the drug, as no pharmacological data has been published on it so far.
Cychlorphine and Related Opioids
The Center for Forensic Science Research & Education first confirmed the presence of cychlorphine in August 2024, describing it as a novel synthetic opioid structurally similar to brorphine. Brorphine emerged in the United States in 2019 and was often found mixed with fentanyl, with involvement in more than 20 overdose deaths. It is now considered a designer drug by some officials.
International Reports
At least five deaths in Europe have been linked to cychlorphine, according to reports cited by public health officials. In Canada, Toronto’s Drug Checking Service reported in October 2025 that cychlorphine was identified in three counterfeit pharmaceutical opioid samples collected in the city. The samples were sold as Dilaudid, OxyContin, and Percocet. Laboratory analysis found that none of the samples contained the expected drugs and that cychlorphine was the only substance detected.
The Toronto service described cychlorphine as a synthetic “orphine” opioid with unknown strength and effects. While related orphine opioids are considered roughly as strong as fentanyl, the potency of cychlorphine specifically remains unknown. Depending on its strength and dosage, the risk of overdose may be increased, the report said. The service added that naloxone should reverse the effects of cychlorphine and other orphine opioids in an overdose situation.
Detection Challenges
Brooks Healing Center, an addiction recovery institution in Tennessee, said in a release on its website that cychlorphine does not typically appear on standard toxicology panels and often requires expanded laboratory testing or specialized analysis for detection. Some cases may go undetected without deeper investigation.
Public Safety Advisory
The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security urged the public to remain vigilant, avoid contact with unknown substances, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement.