The deaths of two University of Mississippi students this week have brought renewed attention to kratom, an herbal extract, and another emerging drug thought to be more potent than fentanyl: cychlorphine.
While kratom was found at both death scenes, authorities have not reported finding cychlorphine in either case. But that’s not stopping it from appearing in the news and on social media.
Cychlorphine is an emerging synthetic opioid first detected in the U.S. in late 2025. It has since appeared in at least 10 states and has been linked to fatal overdoses, according to federal and toxicology officials.
Student organizations, health professionals and public-health officials are now urging caution, but many may be wondering: Why is it such a threat?
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Why are warnings circulating now?
As the drug spreads to at least 10 states — prompting a broader alert from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime — new warnings are specifically targeting college communities.
At the University of Mississippi, student Greek organizations issued warnings about cychlorphine following the deaths of two students, although authorities have not reported finding the drug in either case.
On Wednesday, two Instagram accounts tied to Marquette University, a private university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, posted about the drug.
“A drug called cychlorphine has been causing many overdoses and is in many drugs, including marijuana and cocaine,” the pages said in their shared post, noting a negative fentanyl test strip doesn’t mean something is safe.
“Please be extremely cautious and look out for your friends,” the post says. “Please take this seriously.”
More potent than fentanyl — and standard drug tests may miss it
Cychlorphine, also called N-propionitrile chlorphine, is a synthetic opioid that international drug-monitoring authorities have identified as an emerging threat.
It can come in pill and powder form and, when consumed, can produce powerful opioid effects, but it carries a risk of deadly respiratory depression. It also often co-occurs with other opioids and stimulants, according to the American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT).
“Because of its recent emergence and illicit nature, reliable data are limited; however, it is thought to be as potent or more potent than fentanyl,” ACMT said in a brief on the drug.
The organization also noted that what makes it so dangerous is the way it can go undetected.
“Hospital urine drug screens for opiates and fentanyl will have a negative result. In addition, fentanyl or nitazene test strips will not flag cychlorphine, putting patients at additional risk,” ACMT says.
Treating a cychlorphine overdose
With the risk of ingesting cychlorphine without knowing it comes the risk of overdosing from it.
Naloxone is the medication typically used to reverse an opioid overdose, often referred to by one brand name, Narcan. But experts say if cychlorphine is involved, one dose of Narcan may not be enough to reverse an overdose.
ACMT says multiple doses may be needed, and those aren’t always readily available. Because people may not know cychlorphine is present, experts emphasize having naloxone available and calling 911 immediately if an overdose is suspected.
The key to staying safe
As cychlorphine becomes more common in the U.S., with at least 25 overdoses from late 2025 and early 2026 tied to the drug, officials and experts are urging caution and education.
“When universities keep resources visible and teach students how to respond if a friend needs help, students feel prepared to reach out for themselves or others,” Laura Maguire, vice president of Educational Partnerships at Mountainside Medical, said in a news release.
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