Cychlorphine: What to Know About the New Synthetic Opioid
Cychlorphine (also called N-propionitrile chlorphine) is a synthetic opioid. It belongs to a group called “orphines,” which are chemically distinct from both fentanyl and nitazenes but act on the same opioid receptors in the brain.1,5
Orphines trace back to pharmaceutical research in the 1960s. They were studied as painkillers but never approved for medical use.1,4 Cychlorphine has no accepted medical use in the United States today.4
Like other opioids, cychlorphine slows breathing. In an overdose, breathing can slow or stop entirely, and that is the main danger.5
Why Is Cychlorphine So Dangerous?
It’s extremely potent. Laboratory studies suggest cychlorphine is roughly 10 times more potent than fentanyl.1 These estimates come from lab testing, not human studies, but they point to a very small margin between a dose and an overdose.
People often don’t know they’re taking it. Cychlorphine has been found mixed into fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and other drugs, including methamphetamine, cocaine, and street benzodiazepines.2,3,4 In one reported case, a man overdosed after inhaling what he thought was alprazolam (Xanax). Testing showed it was mostly cychlorphine, mixed with fentanyl and xylazine.4
It’s hard to detect. Fentanyl test strips don’t pick it up, and neither do routine hospital opioid urine screens.2 Specialized lab testing is needed, so cychlorphine deaths are likely undercounted.4
It’s often part of a dangerous mix. Many overdoses involving cychlorphine also involve fentanyl, sedatives such as xylazine or medetomidine, or designer benzodiazepines.1,4 Some of these are not opioids, so naloxone can’t reverse them.3
Where Has Cychlorphine Been Found?
Cychlorphine has been found in the drug supply in all four U.S. Census regions. It is most prevalent in Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.2
Tennessee: The Knox County Regional Forensic Center linked cychlorphine to 41 overdose deaths in East Tennessee between July 2025 and February 2026.2
Nationwide: At least 55 deaths had been linked to cychlorphine as of April 2026.2 DEA’s national crime lab system recorded 225 encounters in 19 states.4
Testing labs: One national toxicology lab has detected cychlorphine in samples from 18 states, including California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.6
Europe and Canada: Cychlorphine has been identified in 11 European Union countries and Norway, with 31 confirmed deaths reported in Europe.5 It has also been found in overdose cases in three Canadian provinces.1
Experts believe cychlorphine and other orphines spread after China placed nitazene opioids under stricter control in July 2025, as suppliers looked for substitutes.1,5
Is Cychlorphine Illegal?
Yes. On August 27, 2026, the DEA temporarily placed cychlorphine and three related orphines in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This is the most restrictive category, for drugs with a high potential for misuse and no accepted medical use. The order lasts two years, with a possible one-year extension, while permanent scheduling is considered.4
Signs of a Cychlorphine Overdose
A cychlorphine overdose looks like any other opioid overdose:
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Blue or gray lips and fingertips
- Pinpoint pupils
- Unresponsiveness, or being unable to wake up
- Gurgling or choking sounds
- A slow heartbeat
- How to Respond to a Suspected Overdose
- Call 911 immediately. Time is critical.3
- Give naloxone (Narcan) if you have it.
- If the person doesn’t respond in 2–3 minutes, give another dose. Cychlorphine may require several doses of naloxone.3
- Start rescue breathing if you’re trained, and keep the person on their side if they’re breathing.
- Stay with them until help arrives. Naloxone can wear off before the opioid does.
Carry more than one dose of naloxone. Remember that it won’t reverse non-opioid sedatives such as xylazine that may also be present.3
Treatment for Cychlorphine Addiction
There is no treatment specific to cychlorphine. That’s not a reason for concern: it acts on the same receptors as other opioids, so proven opioid addiction treatment applies. Because people are often exposed to several substances at once, care should start with a full medical and toxicology assessment.
Effective treatment usually includes:
- Medical detox with 24/7 monitoring. Withdrawal from potent synthetic opioids can be intense, and other substances in the mix (such as benzodiazepines or xylazine) may need their own medical management.
- Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as buprenorphine, methadone, or naltrexone. These reduce cravings and significantly lower the risk of overdose death. With very potent synthetic opioids, clinicians may adjust how they start buprenorphine to avoid precipitated withdrawal.
- Inpatient or outpatient rehab with behavioral therapies such as CBT.
- Aftercare and relapse prevention. This matters especially when the drug supply is unpredictable, because tolerance drops quickly after treatment and that raises overdose risk.
American Addiction Centers facilities offer medical detox, MOUD, and evidence-based treatment for opioid addiction. Facilities near affected regions include Oxford Treatment Center in Mississippi, near the Tennessee cluster, and Laguna Treatment Center in California, which provides hospital-based detox.
Call to speak with an admissions navigator, available 24/7, or check your insurance coverage.
