By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Health officials at the University of Arizona are warning students about cychlorphine, a new synthetic opioid recently found in California’s drug supply.
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The drug is more potent than fentanyl and is responsible for dozens of deadly overdoses across the country.
Deaths reported in California and Nevada
The issued a warning in April that the drug has been found in the illicit drug supply and was recently involved in fatal overdoses in California and Nevada.
“What we’re concerned about is it coming to Arizona through the illicit drug trade and getting into things it shouldn’t be in,” said Jack Boylan, Captain of Public Information and Outreach for the University of Arizona’s Emergency Medical Services.
EMS posted a public health alert about cychlorphine on Wednesday, Sept. 23, warning students about the drug’s presence in California.
“We often see substance issues being a primary reason that we get dispatched and we have to either administer Narcan or get people to the hospital for monitoring and supervision, so we want to make sure that this isn’t something that they’re encountering and possibly reacting the wrong way,” Boylan said.
Narcan remains effective
Boylan said they also needed to address claims that Narcan, used to reverse the effects of an overdose, isn’t effective against the drug.
“That’s untrue; Narcan is used for any type of opioid,” said Aditya Rohilla, president of the Team Awareness Combatting Overdoses club on campus.
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Rohilla said Narcan is still effective but may require multiple doses.
“A lot of people only carry like one to two doses of Narcan, and sometimes that may not be enough for this drug,” Rohilla said.
Rohilla’s organization has placed Narcan in every AED cabinet on campus and has worked alongside EMS to educate students about drug safety.
“Not only do we provide people with the supplies needed in case of an overdose, but we’re also educating people on what these drugs are, what their effects are, how to use them safely,” Rohilla said.
Boylan said despite concerns about cychlorphine entering the state, they are doing what they can to prepare students before it arrives.
“All we can ask for is people to be informed, stay up to date, look for new information, and be aware of where they’re able to find Narcan on campus,” Boylan said.
Narcan is available for free in every AED cabinet throughout the U of A’s campus, as well as every Pima County pharmacy and library.
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To see where Narcan is available near you, go HERE.
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