District Health Department No. 10 is warning residents across 10 Northern Michigan counties about a new synthetic opioid called cychlorphine, which health officials say can be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl. The warning covers Crawford, Kalkaska, Lake, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Missaukee, Newaygo, Oceana, and Wexford counties, and comes as officials caution that the drug may be mixed into methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, and other illicit substances.
As reported by 9&10 News, cychlorphine has no accepted medical use in the United States and has already turned up in illicit drug supplies and toxicology investigations in multiple states. The outlet also notes that the substance cannot be detected using standard drug test strips, a gap that leaves users with little warning about what they are actually taking.
Why Standard Overdose Response May Not Be Enough
Angie Salgat, who serves as Hope Project coordinator and community health coordinator for District Health Department No. 10, said cychlorphine poses a huge risk to the community, per the same 9&10 News report. Salgat said multiple doses of naloxone, also known as Narcan, may be needed to counteract the drug's effects, and she urged residents to keep Narcan with them and know how to use it.
Health officials recommend calling 911 immediately if an opioid overdose is suspected. Signs of an overdose include unresponsiveness and slow or stopped breathing, and officials advise administering naloxone, providing rescue breathing, and staying with the person until emergency medical responders arrive.
A Drug Showing Up Nationwide
The warning in Northern Michigan follows a broader pattern of detections described by forensic researchers. The Center for Forensic Science Research and Education says cychlorphine was first detected at its center in mid-2024 and has since been identified in 25 blood specimens from fatal overdoses, with the vast majority submitted in late 2025 and early 2026. Separately, NMS Labs had tentatively identified the substance in more than 100 toxicology cases, according to the same CFSRE alert, with specimens originating from eight U.S. states and three Canadian provinces.
CFSRE's alert also found the drug co-detected alongside other opioids, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. The group reported that cychlorphine positivity in fatal overdoses has increased since mid-2025. By May 2026, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime reported the drug had been identified in 10 countries and detected in 182 drug seizures and 78 fatal overdoses, and it similarly warned that the substance is not expected to be detected by standard drug test strips or routine opioid urine screens.
Other States Have Already Sounded the Alarm
CNN has reported that cychlorphine has been seen in about 25 states nationwide. In East Tennessee, the drug was linked to at least 41 deaths across 11 counties between July 2025 and February 2026, according to USA Today, which also reported that Florida, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and South Carolina have issued their own public warnings. The Hill has reported that Ohio's Gallia County Health Department issued an overdose alert and that Kentucky's Office of Homeland Security sent out a public warning about the drug as well.
Elsewhere, agencies are racing to build the capacity to even detect the substance. Governing has reported that Arizona's Department of Public Safety crime laboratory purchased a testing standard for cychlorphine and planned to begin validation procedures, underscoring how far ahead of routine drug screening the compound has moved.
Where to Get Naloxone in Northern Michigan
District Health Department No. 10 provides free naloxone through its syringe service program and encourages residents to share the warning with friends and family. The department also offers free Narcan training courses and can be reached at 231-775-9942 to schedule one. Residents can find nearby naloxone distribution locations, including the department's own office at 501 Norway St., Suite #1 in Grayling, listed in the naloxone section of the syringe service program's website.
Federal authorities have also moved to restrict the drug, though reporting varies on the exact timing. CNN has reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration designated cychlorphine a temporary Schedule I substance in August, while USA Today reported the agency issued a temporary order categorizing it as Schedule I in July.
