(FRANKFORT, Ky.)-Kentucky officials are warning the public about the presence of cychlorphine, a powerful synthetic opioid, after the drug was detected within the state’s borders.
The Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS) issued the alert Friday, noting that cychlorphine is ten times more potent than fentanyl and has already been linked to overdoses in neighboring Tennessee and other areas near the Commonwealth.
“This substance is frequently mixed with other illegal narcotics, placing users at extreme risk of unintentional exposure,” KOHS said in a social media post. Officials added that the drug’s reach is expected to grow, warning that “its presence is expected to expand to additional areas within the Commonwealth.”
Health officials are urging first responders and healthcare workers to exercise extreme caution when handling unknown substances, wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and treat any suspected cychlorphine-related overdose as a medical emergency.
Authorities did not disclose specific locations where the drug had been detected or how many overdoses in the state may be connected to the substance.
