Health officials are warning about cychlorphine, a powerful synthetic opioid that is estimated to be up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl. Even tiny amounts can cause a fatal overdose, and the drug has already been linked to deaths in several parts of the United States. Because it can be mixed into other drugs without a person’s knowledge, anyone using illicit substances may be at greater risk than they realize.

One of the biggest dangers of cychlorphine is how quickly it can stop breathing, making overdoses especially difficult to survive without immediate medical care. Since it is a newer drug, many standard drug tests cannot easily detect it, making it harder for healthcare providers and public health officials to identify and respond to outbreaks.

Like other opioid overdoses, naloxone (Narcan) can save lives, but experts warn that overdoses involving cychlorphine may require multiple doses because of the drug’s extreme potency. The safest choice is to avoid illicit drugs entirely, as there is no reliable way to know what they contain or whether they have been contaminated with dangerous synthetic opioids.