- A new synthetic opioid, N-Propionitrile chlorphine, believed to be 10 times more potent than fentanyl, has been linked to dozens of deaths across the U.S. and Canada.
- The drug was first detected in toxicology reports in mid-2024 and belongs to an emergent subclass of synthetic opioids called “orphines,” which appeared on the recreational market in 2020.
- N-Propionitrile chlorphine is particularly dangerous because it is not detectable by fentanyl testing strips and is often manufactured to resemble legitimate prescription pills.
- Authorities in Tennessee have attributed 41 deaths in 11 counties to the drug so far in 2026, with additional fatalities reported in states including Oklahoma, Kentucky, California, and New York.
- Experts believe the drug is produced at scale by international, multilevel drug distribution networks, likely originating from regions like South Asia or China.
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