The Knox County Regional Forensic Center in East Tennessee has now associated 63 deaths with cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid that federal drug policy officials flagged nationally in April. The center's chief administrative officer, Chris Thomas, said the drug was determined to be the cause in 58 of those cases.
That is a sharper picture than the federal notice painted. The Office of National Drug Control Policy issued the federal drug threat notice on April 30, citing at least 55 deaths nationwide. The center's own tally has since risen to 63 through June 30, making cychlorphine the fourth most common drug tied to fatalities in its caseload this year.
