Los Angeles County Reports First Cychlorphine Death

The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner identified cychlorphine as a cause of a death that occurred in February 2026. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health made the announcement on October 15 as the first confirmation of the drug in LA County‘s illicit street drug trade.

Public Health Confirmation

Cychlorphine, also known as N-propionitrile chlorphine, has been detected in the illicit drug supply in 19 states since it was first identified in the United States in 2024. It has appeared in powders, counterfeit tablets made to resemble prescription medication, rocks or crystals and liquids.

A separate death caused by cychlorphine was reported in Northern California in April 2026. Public Health is monitoring whether the drug becomes more common in Los Angeles County.

In August 2026, the Drug Enforcement Administration classified cychlorphine as a Schedule I drug so it’s illegal to possess or sell. 

Cychlorphine Increases Overdose Risk

People may not know when cychlorphine is mixed into a substance they’re using. Fentanyl test strips don’t detect it. Free testing that can identify cychlorphine is available through Drug Checking LA with results in about 15 to 20 minutes.

Avoiding drugs is the safest course. But that advice doesn’t always work, so harm reduction methods like not using alone, starting with a small amount and going slowly, avoiding drug combos and carrying naloxone also play a role.

The Impact on Mental Health

A local overdose alert can affect people with different needs. Some may need opioid-specific care, while others may also be managing depression, anxiety, trauma or mental health conditions. Co-occurring disorders means a substance use disorder and a mental health condition occur together.

Dual diagnosis treatment addresses both conditions in the same care plan. The staff assess both drug and mental health needs rather than treating them separately.

Overdose & Local Testing

Naloxone can reverse an opioid overdose, including one involving cychlorphine and restore breathing. It’s available as a nasal spray or intramuscular injection. Public Health says both methods are equally effective and multiple doses may be necessary.

When overdose hits, call 911 and give naloxone. The state has made resources available and Los Angeles County residents can obtain naloxone nasal spray or other meds at Community Health Stations and medical providers. Poison Control is available at 1-800-222-1222.

The county also offers free drug checking through DrugCheckingLA.com. This service can test a sample for cychlorphine.

Find Local Care

Los Angeles County’s Services and Bed Availability Tool at SUDHelpLA.org lists publicly funded substance use treatment. RecoverLA.org provides another way to find services.

County services include outpatient and residential treatment. Folks seeking residential treatment centers or integrated care for co-occurring disorders can ask which programs offer those services.

You can also search our browsable online directory for local behavioral health and addiction programs. 

Call 800-908-4823 (Sponsored) for help finding comprehensive mental health and addiction treatment.

Author

Courtney Myers, MS

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Courtney Myers has more than 15 years of experience in online writing and editing. Since graduating from N.C. State University with an MS in Technical Communication, she’s helped clients improve their visibility and reach through expert-level content creation. She specializes in addiction recovery and behavioral healthcare topics.

Editor

Peter Lee, PhD

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Peter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history during the Cold War. His primary focus is the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century. He has published widely on how the public has used popular culture as a mechanism to address political and social shifts throughout time