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Los Angeles health authorities have issued an urgent warning about an opioid that is 10 times more powerful than fentanyl after it claimed its first victim in LA County.
Officials with the LA Department of Public Health said a fatality in February has been tied to the drug cychlorphine, a powerful synthetic opioid like fentanyl and heroin.
Authorities are warning about the drug’s extreme potency, which can kills users even in small doses.
In April, San Francisco health officials tied a fatal overdose to cychlorphine, making it the first time the drug had been detected in the city.
Officials warned that the drug is being mixed into the illicit drug supply without people knowing, saying it’s currently undetectable by fentanyl testing strips.
The powerful opioid has been known to be in the US drug supply since 2024 and has been detected in 19 states.
Authorities warn that cychlorphine is not confined to pills and can be hidden across multiple street drugs, making detection and avoidance especially difficult.
The drug has been found in liquids, rocks or crystals, powders and counterfeit tablets made to look like prescription medication, according to the health warning.
The DEA classified cychlorphine as a Schedule I drug in August 2026, making it illegal to possess or sell, officials said.
To minimize the risk of sudden death, health officials urged residents to never use drugs alone, not to mix drugs, and to carry naloxone.
Naloxone is a life-saving medication that can reverse an opioid overdose and successfully restore breathing, according to county health officials.