Los Angeles County health officials on Oct. 15 confirmed the county's first overdose death involving cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl that fentanyl test strips cannot detect. The county Medical Examiner's Office identified the drug as a cause of death in an overdose that occurred in February, MyNewsLA reported, citing the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The finding marks the first confirmed presence of cychlorphine in the county's illicit drug supply. It also means a negative fentanyl test strip cannot rule out a dangerous opioid in a pill or powder bought locally.
