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

A synthetic opioid called cychlorphine is now on the DEA’s watch list for Georgia and is being described by federal officials as up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl.

Although the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement has confirmed no cychlorphine cases in Georgia yet, it remains on high alert as it has killed several people across the Southeast.

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 Georgia?

As of this reporting, there are no confirmed cychlorphine cases in Georgia, but the drug is closing in from neighboring states.

• The Knox County Regional Forensic Center linked cychlorphine to 41 deaths across 11 counties between July 2025 and February 2026
• Confirmed cases have also surfaced in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Louisiana
• DEA Atlanta says it’s “all hands on deck” monitoring the drug’s spread toward Georgia

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.