New potent street drug prompts Hawaii health alert
Hawaii health officials have issued an alert regarding the arrival of cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than fentanyl. The drug is being sold via social media and is linked to multiple overdose deaths across the U.S.
Why it matters
The emergence of highly potent synthetic drugs poses a severe public health threat, particularly to younger populations experimenting with counterfeit pills.
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An extremely potent illegal drug called cychlorphine is killing people in multiple states, including a teenager in California. Hawaii health officials say it is a matter of time before deaths from the drug happen in the islands.
Cychlorphine is an opioid made in a lab that is up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The drug has been detected in California, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Nevada, with deaths hitting double digits in some areas.
Earlier this month, San Francisco police announced the arrests of four suspected drug dealers following the death of a 16-year-old who overdosed after taking counterfeit pills laced with cychlorphine.
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