New drug linked to 41 deaths in Tennessee.

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.

The drug, also known as cychlorphine, was first identified less than two years ago in a lab. It’s thought to be 10 times more potent than fentanyl, according to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education.

Since mid-2025, it has been increasingly linked to overdose deaths. It was included in the toxicology of at least 41 deaths in eleven Tennessee counties between July 2025 and February 2026.

Since October 2024, the new opioid has also been detected in toxicology reports in California, Illinois, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas, the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education said in January. The Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said in March it had also been identified in the state.

It’s often detected with other drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Originally, the Forensic Center thought the drug arrived in Tennessee in November 2025, but now officials think it likely came to the area last summer.

Some believe the drug originated in China before moving to Europe, according to the Forensic Center

Thomas said Knox County RFC and other Tennessee agencies test for the drug, while other states don’t or can’t. He expects more states to start testing in the future.

Naloxone or Narcan, a medication that can reverse opioid overdoses, can still work against this new, synthetic drug, according to experts at Oklahoma State. When used quickly, the medication can save lives.