The Opioid Your Drug Test Can’t See
Cychlorphine is a powerful opioid now appearing in the illicit drug supply. Standard fentanyl test strips and routine urine screens do not detect it — so people, families, and first responders need to know what to watch for and what to do.
What Is Cychlorphine?
Cychlorphine is an orphine-class opioid. It is not a fentanyl analogue. It was first detected in the illicit drug supply by a DEA laboratory in Florida in April 2024, and it has since been found in multiple states. In August 2026, the DEA placed it temporarily in Schedule I.
If someone is overdosing, call 911 first. Then give naloxone, help them breathe, and stay with them until help arrives. The five steps below walk through exactly what to do.
Why It Is So Dangerous
- It hides from standard tests. Fentanyl test strips do not detect cychlorphine, and routine urine drug screens miss it. A negative test does not mean a drug is safe.
- It is extremely potent. Laboratory testing has reported it at up to 10 times the potency of fentanyl. Human potency has not been directly measured — the danger is real even without an exact number.
- It is already killing people. Federal officials have reported 55 or more deaths linked to cychlorphine nationally across 2025–2026.
- It can appear without warning. It may be mixed into other drugs, so a person may not know they have taken it.
Signs of an Opioid Overdose
- Slow, shallow, or stopped breathing
- Unresponsiveness — cannot be woken up
- Pinpoint pupils
- Blue or gray lips and fingernails
- Gurgling, choking sounds, or vomiting
- Limp body
If you see these signs, treat it as an overdose and act immediately — do not wait for a test result.
Five Steps That Save Lives
- Call 911. Say someone is overdosing and give the location.
- Give naloxone (Narcan). Naloxone still works against cychlorphine. Give one dose into a nostril or as directed on the device.
- Help them breathe. If they are not breathing, give rescue breaths if you are trained, or follow the 911 dispatcher’s instructions.
- Repeat every 2–3 minutes. If there is no improvement, give another dose of naloxone. Because this drug is so potent, more than one dose is often needed — carry more than one.
- Stay until help arrives. Keep the person on their side if they are breathing, and stay with them. Naloxone wears off before the opioid does, so they can slip back into overdose.
Naloxone still works — bring more than one dose. If you or someone you love uses drugs, or if you work with people who do, carrying naloxone is one of the simplest ways to save a life.
Join the Community Alert List
Get local alerts and plain-language updates about cychlorphine and other drug-supply dangers in Metro Detroit. Sign up by email:
Or use the booking form and write “alert list” in your message.
Book a CPR / Narcan Training
We teach community groups, workplaces, churches, and schools how to recognize an overdose and respond with naloxone — plus full CPR, First Aid, and BLS certification.