California health officials are sounding the alarm on a dangerous new street drug contaminant, N-Propionitrile Chlorphine (commonly known as Cychlorphine). It is a potent new synthetic opioid with no legitimate medical uses. First detected in January this year, the drug is increasingly being found in the California illicit drug market, as well as overdoses. One recent overdose in San Francisco resulted in a fatality.

Cychlorphine has been found in California’s drug supply, used similarly to fentanyl as an adulterant. Like many counterfeit medications, it has been found in trafficked “blue pills” or fake Oxycodone on the street. It’s also being mixed into street drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine.

It’s a dangerous drug that is ten times as powerful as fentanyl and undetectable by standard fentanyl test strips. 

This FAQ addresses the most common concerns regarding its impact in the Bay Area, San Diego, and California’s illicit drug market as a whole.

What is Cychlorphine and why is it dangerous?

Cychlorphine is a non-fentanyl synthetic opioid. It’s a class you may not have heard of before called an “orphine analogue”. (This synthetic type of opioid also includes the adulterants called nitazines.) Cychlorphine is ten times more powerful than fentanyl and up to 1,000 times stronger than morphine. Its extreme potency significantly increases the risk of fatal respiratory failure and overdose deaths. California’s street drugs in recent years have increasingly included adulterants that can cause fatal overdoses, including sedatives like medetomadine. 

Where has it been detected in California?

San Francisco/Bay Area: In late April 2026, the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) issued a high-priority alert after Cychlorphine was detected in a local fatal overdose. It was found in a victim who had taken blue counterfeit pills that are often sold on the street as Oxy or fentanyl, but often contain a mixture of drugs.

San Diego: While the initial alert centered on San Francisco, San Diego is seeing record-breaking seizures of various synthetics and drugs with adulterants due to its status as a major border city. 

Can I test for Cychlorphine at home?

Unfortunately, no. One of the most dangerous aspects of the introduction of Cychlorphine is that it is undetectable by standard fentanyl test strips because it is a different type of synthetic opioid.

Does Narcan (Naloxone) work on Cychlorphine?

Yes, Narcan can still help reverse respiratory depression, which is what can make overdoses fatal. However, when Cychlorphine causes it, an overdose may require multiple doses of Narcan to be successful, according to San Francisco health officials. 

Is Cychlorphine being mixed with other drugs?

In California, Cychlorphine has been found as an adulterant or standalone counterfeit pills. For people who do not usually use opioids, it is a highly dangerous adulterant that can result in death. It’s been found in:

  • Benzodiazepines: In the San Francisco case, it was found alongside Ethyl Bromazolam, a designer benzo that causes “blackout” overdoses. Narcan does not reverse the effects of benzodiazepines, complicating rescue efforts.
  • Counterfeit Pills: It is also pressed into fake “blue pills” or counterfeit Oxycodone.
  • Stimulants: Officials warn it may be mixed into cocaine or methamphetamine, according to recent seizures at border crossings.

Is there a difference between a Cychlorphine high and a Fentanyl high?

Yes, for experienced opioid users, there may be a notable difference between a Cychlorphine high and a fentanyl high. While fentanyl is a potent drug, Cychlorphine is even more dangerously potent. It is often mixed in with other substances and causes blackouts.  It’s estimated to be 10 times more powerful than Fentanyl, and because of the intensity, the risks of accidental use are significantly heightened.

Key Differences in the “High”

Potency and Intensity: Cychlorphine is an “orphine analogue” that is about a thousand times stronger than morphine. Users may lose consciousness more quickly, without enough time to react to an overdose with Narcan.

The “Blackout” Effect: A recent finding in public health is that Cychlorphine is frequently mixed with Ethyl Bromazolam, a potent designer benzodiazepine. This combination does not just produce an opioid high; it can lead to “blackout” overdoses and profound sedation.

Getting Help for Fentanyl, Cychlorphine, and Opioid Use

If you or somebody you love is struggling with substance use, there’s always help available. California has a robust community of treatment centers and recovery houses.  Give us a call at 800-626-4014 to get help reclaiming your life. We’re here to answer any questions.