A new drug called cychlorphine has been reported in different parts of the country, including Ohio. The synthetic opioid poses a threat to public safety due to its high potency and difficulty detecting it through standard drug screening methods.
Kate Cottrill works at the Athens City-County Health Department as the regional public health coordinator for preparedness and response for the southeast central region of Ohio. She said cychlorphine is potentially the newest synthetic opioid substance the U.S. is currently encountering, and might make its way to Athens.
The U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy noted in a press release in April 2026 that Ohio is one of three states in the country with the most reports of cyclorphine identified. There have been no confirmed cases of cychlorphine in Athens or at Ohio University…