The Warren County Drug Task Force is staying vigilant and raising awareness about the possible arrival of Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid recently detected in Kentucky.
Drug alert issued through regional intelligence network
Task force director Tommy Loving said the agency received the alert from the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Center, commonly known as HIDTA.
“This alert came through the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Center,” Loving said. “So when we get that, then we disseminate that to all the detectives and in our group meetings, make sure that everyone read the bulletin, were aware of it, and are prepared to deal with it.”
Loving said staff members routinely educate themselves about emerging drugs. In recent years, new synthetic substances have appeared on the task force’s radar several times annually.
“All too often we see new drugs pop on the radar two or three times a year,” he said.
According to Loving, the department has seen an increase in reports of new synthetic drugs across Kentucky over the past five years.
Multiple methods of use identified
Since receiving the Cychlorphine alert, the task force has learned the drug may be consumed in several ways, including inhalation through the nose, vaping, ingestion in pill form or injection with a needle.
Officials said Narcan can reverse a Cychlorphine overdose, though the number of doses required remains uncertain.
“In the informational bulletin that HIDTA put out, Narcan is effective on this, but it also indicates you may have to use multiple doses to achieve what you might with one dose on, say, one fentanyl pill,” Loving said. “But again, with experience with fentanyl, all too often that takes multiple doses of Narcan too.”
Task force monitoring broader synthetic drug trends
The Warren County Drug Task Force also works closely with neighboring agencies to share overdose data and drug alerts. Loving said fentanyl-related overdose deaths appear to be declining but warned that another synthetic drug could emerge in its place.
“The fentanyl analogs that we’ve had so many problems with is a synthetic drug,” Loving said. “The good news with fentanyl, those numbers seem to be reducing the overdose deaths. I’m fearful that as with fentanyl going down, some other synthetic drug is going to take its place. This drug may be that.”
The task force continues to study new synthetic drugs to ensure it is prepared if Cychlorphine reaches South Central Kentucky communities.
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