A new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine is turning up in Louisiana’s drug supply, and NBC News went looking for answers. In a national segment reported by Tom Costello, NOLA Detox Chief Medical Officer Dr. J. David Hammond, MD, FASAM, explained what this drug means for people who use substances and the families who worry about them.
Why NBC News Called on NOLA Detox
When a dangerous new drug reaches a community, reporters look for clinicians who see its effects firsthand. Dr. Hammond leads medical care across NOLA Detox’s New Orleans and Slidell campuses, where patients come in for medically supervised opioid detox every day.
What Is Cychlorphine?
Cychlorphine is a synthetic opioid that NBC News reports is 10 times more dangerous than fentanyl. It is being mixed into illegal street drugs and pressed into counterfeit anxiety pills that look like real prescriptions.
Louisiana health officials and coroners have linked the drug to recent fatal overdoses in the southeast part of the state, including on the Northshore. Officials have also reported two traits that make it especially risky:
- Standard fentanyl test strips may not detect it. A negative strip does not mean a substance is safe.
- It may take more naloxone (Narcan) to reverse an overdose. Several doses may be needed, and hospital care is essential.
What Dr. Hammond Wants Families to Know
For anyone using opioids, or anyone who loves someone who is, a few steps can save a life right now:
- Treat any pill not from a pharmacy as possibly contaminated, including “anxiety” or pain pills from a friend.
- Keep naloxone on hand and know how to use it.
- If someone is unresponsive or breathing slowly, call 911 right away, give naloxone, and stay with them. Do not stop at one dose if they do not respond.
- Avoid using alone.
About Dr. J. David Hammond
Dr. Hammond is Chief Medical Officer at NOLA Detox and a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (FASAM).
Help Is Available Today
The safest step away from opioids is medically supervised detox, followed by treatment that addresses why the use started. NOLA Detox offers medical detox, inpatient rehab, and outpatient treatment in New Orleans and Slidell, with same-day admissions and an admissions team available 24/7.
Call (504) 446-1111 or verify your insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cychlorphine?
A synthetic opioid reported to be about 10 times more potent than fentanyl. It has been found in street drugs and counterfeit pills.
Will a fentanyl test strip detect cychlorphine?
Louisiana officials report that standard fentanyl test strips do not detect it, so a negative result is not a sign of safety.
Does Narcan work on cychlorphine?
Naloxone can still help, but officials report that reversing a cychlorphine overdose may take multiple doses. Always call 911.
Does NOLA Detox treat opioid addiction?
Yes. NOLA Detox provides medically supervised opioid detox and rehab at its New Orleans and Slidell campuses.
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