05/07/2026
A dangerous new synthetic opioid called cyclorphine is raising alarms across Arkansas after officials linked it to a deadly counterfeit pill case in Central Arkansas. According to experts at the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, the drug is believed to be about 10 times stronger than fentanyl, making even a tiny amount potentially deadly.
Dr. Theodore Brown said investigators discovered the drug after a young man was found dead with what appeared to be oxycodone pills nearby. Testing later revealed the pills were fake and contained cyclorphine instead.
Officials say the drug is not approved for medical use in the United States and is being produced illegally in underground labs before being pressed into counterfeit pills or mixed with other drugs. The synthetic opioid was first identified overseas in 2024 and has already been connected to dozens of deaths in nearby states, including Tennessee.
Health experts warn counterfeit pills are becoming nearly impossible to identify by appearance alone. Forensic chemists say fake pills can closely resemble real prescription medications like Percocet or oxycodone, even fooling trained experts without lab testing.
Gerone Hobbs said overdose deaths involving teens and young adults remain especially heartbreaking as more dangerous synthetic drugs spread through communities.
The report also highlighted the story of Ellison Bryde, a young Arkansas woman who died in 2021 after taking what she believed was a Percocet pill given to her by a friend. Her mother, Kari Clay, now travels across the state warning families about counterfeit pills and the dangers of taking medication not prescribed directly by a pharmacy or doctor.
Officials stressed several key warnings:
* One counterfeit pill can be fatal
* Pills bought online, through social media, or from friends may contain deadly opioids
* Cyclorphine overdoses may require multiple doses of Narcan (naloxone) to reverse
* Even experienced investigators cannot always visually tell fake pills from real ones
Authorities are urging Arkansans to never take pills from unofficial sources and to carry naloxone when possible as the spread of counterfeit drugs continues to grow.
