SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) – Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid federal officials say may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl, has been found in other states stamped into counterfeit pills made to look like prescription painkillers.
Missouri appears on a federal map of cychlorphine drug lab reports from last year, though local doctors and police have not confirmed a case in the area.
Drug resembles common painkillers
Dr. Travis Hawks, medical director of the Mercy Emergency Department and oversees Mercy emergency departments in Aurora, Cassville and Mountain View, said the drug has shown up in fake pills elsewhere.
“It’s been stamped into counterfeit pills. So it’ll look just like a hydrocodone or oxycodone pill,” Hawks said…