New drug, more potent than fentanyl, has Ohio officials ‘on high alert.’ Here’s how bad it is

A synthetic opioid called cychlorphine has turned up in Ohio at least , according to the state's Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and researchers say it may be harder to reverse with naloxone than fentanyl. The Ohio Attorney General has confirmed 36 cychlorphine cases and remains on high alert as it has killed several people.

Addiction experts warn “the greatest danger is that people often don’t know what substances they’re actually consuming.”

What is it?

Cychlorphine (also called N-propionitrile chlorphine) is a lab-made opioid first developed in the 1950s that’s resurging largely via dark web sales.

It is more potent than fentanyl, and studies in mice have found that cychlorphine causes severe slowing of breathing and heart function at lower doses than those needed with fentanyl.

• Acts on the same opioid receptors as fentanyl
• The most commonly reported drug in this class worldwide
• Caused 78 fatal overdoses since 2024
• Can be powder, pills, and even blotter paper
• Has been found pressed into fake Xanax, Percocet, Dilaudid, and OxyContin tablets

How dangerous is it?

Cychlorphine’s potency and how it dodges detection make it especially risky.

• Causes severe breathing and heart problems at lower doses
• Overdoses may need multiple doses of naloxone (Narcan)
• It does not show up on standard fentanyl test strips or routine opioid urine screens
• Most fatal cases involve polysubstance mixes making effects harder to predict

Is it in Ohio?

The known instances aren’t clustered in one place, and the Ohio BCI is currently compiling data about the instance of the substance in seized drugs.

• The drug was caught through routine screening, not targeted testing
• Confirmed eight seized items that contained cychlorphine or a similar compound between October 2025 and Jan. 31, 2026.
• Of those eight, six were linked to either fatal or non-fatal overdoses

How to spot it

Because it doesn’t show up on standard tests, avoidance is the main defense.

• Don’t take pills that didn’t come from a doctor or a sealed pharmacy bottle
• Assume any pressed pill (Xanax, Percocet, Adderall, OxyContin) bought outside a pharmacy could be laced
• Carry naloxone if you or someone around you uses drugs recreationally, and know that multiple doses may be needed

If you suspect an overdose, call 911, administer naloxone if available, and stay with the person until medical help arrives. You can request Naloxone and be trained on its use and most retail pharmacies carry it.

If you or someone you know needs help with an addiction, you can dial 988, an anonymous Lifeline for support.

This story was originally published July 15, 2026 at 6:00 AM with the headline "New drug, more potent than fentanyl, has Ohio officials ‘on high alert.’ Here’s how bad it is."