Tennessee
New synthetic opioid ‘cychlorphine’ linked to 16 overdose deaths across East Tennessee
KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — A newly identified synthetic opioid has been linked to at least 16 overdose deaths in East Tennessee, according to preliminary toxicology tests from the Knox County Regional Forensic Center.
Officials say the drug, N-propionitrile chlorphine, also known as cychlorphine, appeared in nine overdose deaths between late October and December. As of mid-January, the substance had been associated with seven additional deaths.
Authorities say the drug has been detected primarily in cases where other substances were present, including methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Chris Thomas, chief administrative officer and director of the Knox County Regional Forensic Center, said the drug has been appearing more frequently in toxicology reports, though officials are still working to understand how widely it has spread.
“It’s showing up at an exponential rate and at this point, we don’t know if it’s a single batch and done with or if it’s the new future,” Thomas said.
Initial cases were identified in Knox County before spreading to several nearby counties, including Roane, McMinn, Campbell, Union, Anderson, Claiborne, and Sevier counties, according to forensic officials.
Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, the center’s chief medical examiner, said cychlorphine is not approved for clinical use and has never been authorized for sale on the medical market.
“This isn’t a drug that has been approved for clinical use, and it’s never been clinically approved to be sold on the market,” said Dr. Darinka Mileusnic-Polchan, chief medical examiner at Knox County Regional Forensic Center. “We do know it’s more powerful than fentanyl and that naloxone, or Narcan, does not completely block the effects of the drug and multiple doses may be needed to prevent an overdose.”
She said early findings suggest the substance may be more potent than fentanyl. Mileusnic-Polchan also said naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, may require multiple doses to counteract overdoses involving the drug.
Researchers say cychlorphine is part of a group known as new synthetic opioids, or NSOs, laboratory-made opioids that differ structurally from fentanyl and its analogues.
According to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, the drug may have first appeared in China in 2024 before spreading to Europe, Canada, and the United States by mid-2025.
The Knox County Regional Forensic Center first identified the substance in Tennessee in late November 2025 after it appeared in an overdose death in Roane County. Investigators later determined an earlier case in Knox County dated back to October.
Officials say the findings remain preliminary as investigators continue to study the substance and its role in overdose deaths.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — Gov. Bill Lee and First Lady Maria Lee have wrapped up a yearlong, statewide America 250 tour that spotlighted Tennessee’s role in the nation’s history.
The tour, themed “Tennessee: The Original Frontier”, highlighted people, places and events tied to Tennessee’s contributions to America. Over the past year, Lee visited all 95 counties as part of the effort to commemorate the milestone with Tennesseans across the state.
Over the past year, Maria and I have traveled from Mountain City to Memphis, and we’ve been reminded that our state’s greatest strength is its people,” Lee said. “As America prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, Tennesseans can take pride in the Volunteer Spirit carried forward in the individuals, communities, and stories that have helped shape our nation from the very beginning.
The tour concluded in Van Buren County at the same venue where Lee held his first gubernatorial campaign event in 2017, returning to the place where his statewide journey began.
OKLAHOMA CITY — Even though it only needed one win to make the Women’s College World Series finals, Tennessee softball managed its pitching staff in expectation of playing two games.
The No. 7 seed Lady Vols (49-12) were eliminated from the WCWS in the semifinals by taking back-to-back losses to No. 2 seed Texas (51-12) at Devon Park on June 1, ending their season. They lost the first game 5-2 and the second game 4-0.
Tennessee used each of its top three pitchers in the games, starting Erin Nuwer (15-1, 1.04 ERA) in Game 1 and Karlyn Pickens (15-8, 1.70 ERA) in Game 2. Sage Mardjetko (16-3, 1.45 ERA) also pitched in Game 1.
“Knowing what could be on the horizon, I think you almost have to plan for the possibility of two games,” Tennessee coach Karen Weekly said. “You’re hoping to go out there and win it in one.”
Nuwer pitched the first two innings of Game 1, long enough to get through Texas’ full batting order once. Mardjetko then relieved Nuwer. Weekly said she made that decision because of how well Mardjetko did against Texas in the Lady Vols’ WCWS opening win against the Longhorns on May 28.
In that game, Mardjetko pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and two walks with a strikeout. She didn’t have the same success in the semifinals, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in 2⅓ innings.
“Sage did such a good job against them the other day,” Weekly said. “So, we got exactly what we wanted out of Erin. We wanted her to get us one time through the lineup without any damage, and she did, and then hand it over to Sage.”
At the start of the fifth inning, Pickens began warming up in the bullpen. Mardjetko didn’t get pulled until later in the inning, after giving up a home run, a double, a walk and two singles that amounted to three runs. However, instead of putting Pickens in, Weekly elected to go back to Nuwer.
“Just staying ready,” Pickens said of her bullpen activity. “Never know when you might go into a game. Yeah, that’s my job. It’s not my job to decide when I go in, so just stay ready.”
Weekly said she was planning on putting Pickens in if Tennessee took the lead which never happened. Pickens instead started Game 2, pitching the entire game and allowing four runs, seven hits and three walks with six strikeouts in six innings.
“You kind of have to balance how many bullets are you going to use in Game 1 if you get to Game 2?” Weekly said. “You want to get to Game 2 and have a good plan with your pitching staff. I felt like we got to Game 2 with a good plan. We got to Game 2 with a rested Karlyn, and pitching wasn’t so much the problem today. We just didn’t mount an offensive threat.”
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
Storms are expected to roll through Middle Tennessee Monday morning into the afternoon.
A few storms could turn strong to severe with damaging wind as the main threat. The tornado risk remains very low.
Severe weather threats for Monday, June 1, 2026. (WZTV)
Some storms will bring heavy rain that could cause localized flooding. A second wave of storms is possible later in the day with similar threats.
A large portion of Middle Tennessee was upgraded to a slight risk, Level 2/5, for severe weather. The severe threat ends shortly before sunset Monday.
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The middle of the week looks much nicer with temperatures in the low 80s and lower humidity.
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