Horrifying super drug 100 times stronger than fentanyl claims first Bay Area victim

Health authorities in San Francisco have issued an urgent warning following the detection of a potent synthetic opioid in the city, linked to a fatal overdose earlier this month.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health reported that the drug, named cychlorphine, was found in a counterfeit pill, raising alarms due to its high potency and unpredictable emergence in the illegal drug market.

“We believe it is more potent than fentanyl. It was found, we believe, in someone using a counterfeit pill,” stated Daniel Tsai, director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health, to ABC7.

Law enforcement officials indicated that cychlorphine was first identified last year.

“The first time the DEA saw it was in 2024 at one of our labs in Florida,” explained Bob Beris, special agent in charge of the DEA San Francisco Field Division, to ABC. “A pill can appear in Chicago and, within 30 hours, can be in San Francisco, using major corridors like I-80, the 99, and I-5.”

Authorities caution that cychlorphine is not restricted to pills and could be mixed into various street drugs, complicating its detection and avoidance.

“It can be mixed into a pill, sold as a powder, mixed with cocaine, or even sold as cocaine. Just because we haven’t seen these examples yet doesn’t mean they’re not out there,” Beris added.

Public health experts are raising concerns over testing limitations, noting that current drug-checking methods may not detect this substance.

“Importantly, it’s not detected by the available fentanyl test strips. So, it’s crucial to avoid counterfeit pills altogether,” advised Dr. Philip Coffin, director of the Center on Substance Use and Health at SFDPH, speaking to ABC.

Another significant concern is the drug’s suspected resistance to overdose reversal medications like Narcan, which may require multiple doses to work effectively.

Community organizations on the front lines are responding by expanding emergency resources.

“Code Tenderloin has doubled the amount of Narcan we distribute each night. We also work in promotional preventative rehabilitative care, informing and educating the community,” said Douglas Liu, executive director of Community Health Workers Code Tenderloin, to ABC.

Health officials from both the DEA and SFDPH urge the public to avoid counterfeit pills entirely, warning that the illicit drug supply is becoming increasingly unpredictable and hazardous.

Meanwhile, this crisis is developing alongside other concerning trends in the drug supply across the country.

In New York City, officials have discovered two additional hazardous substances in circulation for the first time: carfentanil, a sedative used to tranquilize elephants, and medetomidine, an animal tranquilizer described as even more potent than the street drug xylazine.

Recognizing drug use as a public health issue rather than a moral failing, officials are advocating for harm-reduction strategies to safeguard the most vulnerable individuals in a dangerous drug landscape. They emphasize that community care, including clean needle distribution and shared supervision, is the most effective way to save lives.

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