New Drug Linked to 41 Deaths in Tennessee, Officials Warn

New drug linked to 41 deaths in Tennessee, officials warn

A new, synthetic opioid called N-Propionitrile Chlorphine has been involved in at least 41 deaths in East Tennessee, as experts around the country warn it's been increasingly linked to overdoses in recent months.

Designer drug stronger than fentanyl sparks an 'alarming' overdose trend

Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid 10 times more potent than fentanyl, is linked to dozens of deaths and is spreading across the U.S.

Is cychlorphine increasing overdose deaths in Knox County? Here's what data shows

A new, "extremely deadly" drug is being detected in more overdose deaths in East Tennessee, but is it increasing the number of overdose deaths seen in the Knox County? Here's what the available data is showing.

41 PEOPLE DEAD IN EAST TN FROM NEW SYNTHETIC OPIOID STRONGER THAN FENTANYL

WVLT Casey Wheeless 4/8/26 It’s stronger than fentanyl, largely undetectable, and now connected to 41 deaths in East Tennessee. Researchers and law enforcement are warning about a newly emerging synthetic opioid showing up in East Tennessee overdose deaths: N‑Propionitrile Chlorphine (also called “cychlorphine”). The Knox County Regional Forensic Center says cychlorphine was detected in toxicology in 41 deaths from July 2025–February 2026 acr…