New opioid found in Toronto’s unregulated supply could increase risk of overdose, says drug checking service – CTV
November 03, 2025
Toronto’s Drug Checking Service is warning of a new opioid that has recently been detected in the city’s unregulated drug supply, which it says could result in an increase in overdoses.
In its latest update, the Centre for Drug Policy Evaluation, which runs the service, said it is monitoring an emerging trend after a synthetic opioid, known as cychlorphine, was found in three fake pharmaceutical opioid samples collected in Toronto’s downtown core and the city’s west end between Oct. 25 and 28.
One of these samples was expected to be hydromorphone (Dilaudid), another was expected to be oxycodone (OxyContin), and the third was said to be Percocet, it said.
“None of these samples contained their expected drug – cychlorphine was the only drug found,” the drug checking service said.
Cychlorphine, also known as N-Propionitrile chlorphine, has unknown strength and effects. And while other related orphine opioids are considered to be about as strong as fentanyl, the potency of cychlorphine is not known.
