Cychlorphine, opioid deadlier than fentanyl, detected in LA; standard tests miss it

Authorities in Los Angeles warn that cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl, is present in the illicit drug supply and can cause fatal respiratory depression at microgram doses. Standard drug tests do not screen for it, complicating overdose response and surveillance. This marks a new escalation in the synthetic opioid crisis, with potential for wider geographic spread.