Knox County Forensic Center warns of deadly synthetic opioid killing East Tennesseans

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The Knox County Regional Forensic Center is warning the public about cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid that has killed more than 40 people in East Tennessee.

Chris Thomas, director at the forensic center, said two more suspected deaths from the drug were reported just Monday night. He said most people don’t even realize they are using it.

“The drug is hard to detect. Some drug testing strips cannot pick it up,” Thomas said. “Because of that, people who think they are being careful using street drugs might not even know if the drug is mixed in.”

Unlike medical grade fentanyl, the drug is not approved for people to take.

Troie Webb, Knox County Regional Overdose Prevention Specialist for Metro Drug Coalition, said the drug is causing people to overdose on smaller amounts than typical opioids.

“They’re overdosing off of almost nothing,” Webb said.

Webb said community partners, including Relaunch CARM, are seeing more cases among the unhoused population and individuals who buy drugs on the streets.

Webb said overdoses from cychlorphine happen faster than other drugs.

“The rapidness. People who are normally using, but then overdosing on a smaller amount of a substance. People who are buying from a different person or they’re getting it from a friend of a friend and they’re using only minute amounts,” Webb said.

Metro Drug Coalition works with the Knox County Regional Forensic Center to understand more about the drug. Thomas said bringing awareness to the dangers of the opioid makes him hopeful for change.

“This will convince legislators and other harm reduction specialists to do what’s needed as far as getting this particular drug on a schedule, getting it off the open market and helping save lives here in Knox County,” Thomas said.

The RFC will continue to update the public with more information about the drug.

“We want to make sure that as soon as we know of something new that’s affecting our community, we want people to know about it right then and there and not a year later when we’re summarizing data in a report,” Thomas said.