(WBKO) -The Warren County Drug Task Force is staying alert and spreading awareness for the possible arrival of Cychlorphine, a synthetic opioid recently detected in Kentucky.
Drug alert issued through regional intelligence network
According to Warren county drug task force director Tommy Loving, the task force received the alert through the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Center, known as HIDTA.
Loving shares how staff educates themselves on new drugs.
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 new synthetic drugs have appeared on the task force’s radar multiple times a year in recent years.
According to Loving, within the past 5 years the department has seen an uptake in new synthetic drugs reported in Kentucky.
“All too often we see new drugs pop on the radar two or three times a year,” he said.
Multiple methods of use identified
Since receiving the Cychlorphine alert, the task force has determined the drug can be consumed in multiple ways, including inhalation through the nose, vaping, ingestion as a pill, or injection by needle.
The task force said Narcan can be used to treat a Cychlorphine overdose, though the number of doses required remains unclear.
“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 coordinates with neighboring agencies to share drug alerts and overdose data. Loving said fentanyl overdose deaths appear to be declining but expressed concern that another synthetic drug could take 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 Warren County drug task force continually studies new synthetic drugs to stay prepared for their potential arrival in South Central Kentucky.