L.A. CADA wants you to know that the drug epidemic in America is constantly changing. There's a new threat on the streets of L.A. County. Here's what you need to know about Cychlorphine.

• What does Cychlorphine look like?
  Cychlorphine is an uncontrolled drug and doesn't have a single, recognizable look. It's manufactured as a synthetic chemical powder and rarely sold in its pure, unmixed form. In illicit drug supplies, it typically appears as a white, off-white, or brownish-white powder. It is frequently pressed into fake, look-alike prescription tablets and has been found disguised as Oxycodone, Percocet, and Xanax. You may not know you're taking it because it's often mixed with or hidden inside other illicit substances like fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, or heroin.
  
  
• What does Cychlorphine do?
  Cychlorphine acts on opioid receptors in the brain, leading to euphoria, relaxation, and pain relief. Like other opioids, it can lead to dependence and abuse. This powerful synthetic opioid belongs to a class of drugs called orphines, first developed in the 1960s as a stronger painkiller for conditions like bone cancer. Side effects include extreme drowsiness, sedation, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, constipation, and pinpoint pupils.
  
  
• How can Cychlorphine harm me?
  It can cause slowed or stopped breathing, blue or gray lips and fingertips, unresponsiveness or unconsciousness, and gurgling or choking sounds. Cychlorphine may interact with other drugs and alcohol to suppress the central nervous system and cause respiratory distress.
  
  
• What can be done to help?
  Call 911. Cychlorphine is a strong drug that can require multiple doses of Narcan (naloxone) for reversal to be effective. Naloxone needs to be administered before brain swelling occurs, according to Lewis Nelson, MD, a medical toxicologist at Florida Atlantic University's Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine.
  
  
• Bottom Line:
  Opioid addiction continues to be a major public health concern, and new drugs such as Cychlorphine aren't helping. If you or someone you love needs opioid treatment, give L.A. CADA a call at (562) 923-0676. We're here for you.