New Synthetic Opioid Raises Concerns in South Carolina

CONWAY, S.C. – The South Carolina Attorney General has issued a warning about a new synthetic opioid named cychlorphine, following alerts from college social media accounts nationwide.

On September 24, Coastal Carolina University’s Instagram account informed students in South Carolina about this emerging threat.

The Attorney General’s Office pointed out that synthetic opioids are often produced overseas and smuggled into the U.S. by drug cartels. These substances are designed to be extremely potent, highly addictive, and, unfortunately, harder to detect.

“This is poison, plain and simple. We are witnessing foreign adversaries and drug cartels collaborating to inundate our communities with these deadly substances. They have no regard for who they kill. Their aim is profit, and the cost is American lives,” stated S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Understanding Cychlorphine

Cychlorphine, also referred to as cyclophine, is a newly identified synthetic opioid.

Unlike other opioids such as fentanyl, it has a unique structure and goes undetected by standard opioid test strips.

“It’s estimated to be up to ten times more powerful than fentanyl,” said Paul Richardson, chief medical examiner at Conway Medical Center.

This drug can lead to significant behavioral changes and excessive sleepiness. In severe cases, it could cause respiratory failure or a heart attack.

Treating an overdose on cyproheptadine may require multiple doses of naloxone, commonly known as Narcan.

Since 2025, there have been 55 fatalities associated with this drug, with notable concentrations in the South and Midwest, particularly in states like Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas.

While Richardson has yet to report any overdoses in Conway, he predicts that the situation might change soon.

“A couple of years back, we didn’t expect to see the variety of fentanyl derivatives that now exist,” he remarked. “So, if it’s not here already, it’s probably just a matter of time before it arrives.”