South Carolina Officials Alert Public to Lethal Risks of New Drug Even in Tiny Doses

SOUTH CAROLINA – Authorities in South Carolina have raised the alarm over a new and dangerous synthetic opioid, cychlorphine, that has recently been detected within the state.

Attorney General Alan Wilson highlighted on Wednesday the troubling trend of synthetic opioids, like cychlorphine, being manufactured abroad, often in places like China, before being smuggled into the United States by drug cartels.

“This substance is nothing short of poison,” Wilson stated emphatically. “We’re witnessing a concerted effort by foreign adversaries and drug cartels to inundate our communities with these lethal drugs. Their only objective is profit, regardless of the lives lost in the process. It’s crucial for parents to grasp the severity of this issue and discuss it with their children immediately. One misstep, one exposure, could be deadly. We are committed to utilizing every available resource to combat this threat and safeguard families across South Carolina.”

Wilson further explained that these synthetic drugs are engineered to be exceptionally potent, highly addictive, and challenging to detect. Often, they are clandestinely mixed with other substances, putting users at risk of an unexpected and potentially fatal outcome.

South Carolina officials have expressed grave concerns about the public safety threat posed by cychlorphine. Even minimal exposure can lead to overdose or death, and its constantly changing chemical structure complicates detection by conventional methods.

The Attorney General’s Office asked all residents to:

• Avoid any unknown or illicit substances
• Parents: talk to your children about the dangers of synthetic drugs and the reality that a single exposure could be fatal
• Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement
• Seek help immediately if you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse

The Attorney General’s Office said they it will continue working with state, local, and federal partners to combat the flow of these drugs, hold traffickers accountable, and keep this poison out of communities.