SUMMERS COUNTY, W.Va. — Healthcare officials are alerting residents to a powerful synthetic opioid known as cyclorphine that has recently been identified in Kentucky and linked to overdose deaths in neighboring states.
According to a social media post from the Summers County location of Appalachian Regional Healthcare, cyclorphine is reportedly up to 10 times stronger than fentanyl, dramatically increasing the risk of fatal overdose.
Mixed Into Other Illicit Drugs
Officials warn the drug is often mixed into other street drugs without a user’s knowledge. Because of its extreme potency, even a small amount can cause sudden respiratory failure.
The warning comes as communities across the region continue battling the ongoing opioid crisis, largely driven in recent years by illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
Naloxone Still Recommended
Healthcare providers emphasized that naloxone — the overdose-reversal medication — may only partially reverse a cyclorphine overdose due to its strength. However, they strongly encourage administering naloxone immediately if an overdose is suspected.
Bystanders are urged to:
-
Call 911 immediately
-
Administer naloxone
-
Stay with the person until emergency responders arrive
“ARH encourages everyone — individuals, families and community members — to carry naloxone whenever possible,” the statement said. “The ingredients of drugs sold illicitly are ever changing, and being prepared can save lives.”
Officials say awareness and rapid response remain critical as increasingly potent synthetic opioids enter the illicit drug supply.