New ‘zombie drug’ that’s 10 times stronger than Fentanyl linked to scores of deaths

A terrifying new drug that it is ten times stronger than fentanyl and that doesn’t appear on many tests seems to be growing in popularity and has been linked to dozens of deaths

A frightening new “super-drug” 10 times stronger than fentanyl is growing in popularity across the US and is already linked to dozens of fatalities. The synthetic opioid known as cychlorphine has become especially popular in the US state of Louisana, sparking urgent warnings from local health officials and law enforcement.

What makes cychlorphine especially deadly is that it can be disguised as everyday prescription pills like oxycodone, meaning users often have no idea of what it is that they are taking. Scientists estimate that the terrifying substance could be around 10 times more powerful than fentanyl, a drug that causes tens of thousands of deaths each year.

To put that into perspective, fentanyl itself is around 50 times stronger than heroin, making cychlorphine potentially one of the most potent opioids ever seen on US streets.

Officials fear even a tiny amount could kill, with experts warning that overdoses involving the drug may be incredibly hard to reverse, even with life-saving treatments like Narcan, according to the Independent.

The alarm was first raised back in March when a routine test by the North Louisiana Crime Lab uncovered the powerful chemical in evidence from the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, and since then it has been discovered in at least 13 states in the US, including Tenessee, Ohio and Texas.

In Tennessee alone, 41 people are believed to have died from the horrid drug in just the past few months.

What is perhaps even more troubling is that standard drug tests are not designed to detect the substance, triggering worries that it could be in wider circulation than we think.

Officials are now urging people to steer clear of any street drugs, warning it has “never been more dangerous” to take unknown substances.

Cychlorphine has already made its way to the UK too.

In December 2025 three people died in the London borough of Camden reportedly having taken the substance.

In a statement, The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities said that: “following a drug seizure, three deaths in the Borough of Camden are known to be associated with the substance Cychlorphine.

Cychlorphine has also been linked to two recent deaths in the South East of England.

These deaths are linked to those who have been using heroin, suggesting Cychlorphine has been added to supplies in London and the South East.”

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