San Francisco health officials have issued a warning about the emergence of a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than fentanyl, following the death of a 16-year-old boy from Lower Nob Hill. Dante Paul Lacourte died on April 7 in his San Francisco apartment after ingesting cyclorphine, a drug previously uncommon in the city and identified in his autopsy report.
Cyclorphine, a synthetic opioid developed in Belgian laboratories during the 1960s as part of research into strong painkillers, has resurfaced as a dangerous illicit substance. Though originally not approved for medical use due to its strength and risks, the chemical formula for cyclorphine is accessible via the internet, enabling its manufacture outside regulated pharmaceutical environments. Experts note the drug is approximately ten times as potent as fentanyl. Unlike fentanyl, which can be detected with test strips, cyclorphine remains difficult to trace and requires multiple doses of the opioid-reversal drug Narcan for potential rescue—typically beyond what is carried by most users or responders.
Dante Lacourte, described by his mother Christina as a spirited and adventurous teen, struggled with anxiety, depression, and substance use. He had been prescribed treatment and therapy, but his use of illicit pills such as Xanax and Percocet escalated through dealer connections facilitated by social media platforms like Snapchat. His close friend, Leo Wingate, 19, said Dante frequently took risks with unregulated substances, often using pills he suspected to contain fentanyl to self-medicate.
San Francisco has seen more than 4,000 overdose deaths since 2020, predominantly linked to fentanyl, far exceeding fatalities from other causes including COVID-19. The advent of cyclorphine presents new challenges for public health and law enforcement, complicating overdose prevention efforts. San Francisco’s wastewater testing program, aimed at early identification of novel substances, faced funding gaps but resumed monitoring this year, with plans to publicly share results on new drug detections.
Law enforcement officials have made recent arrests connected to narcotics supply in the city’s Tenderloin and Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhoods. Four individuals—Nicholas Wallace, Sharonee Hyson, Leander Pitts, and Starr Lamare—were detained on multiple felony charges related to drug trafficking and firearms possession. Police recovered large quantities of pills, including suspected counterfeit Xanax and oxycodone, along with fentanyl and cocaine. Authorities are expediting tests to determine whether any of the seized drugs contain cyclorphine.
San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced charges against the suspects, indicating that more serious charges could follow if investigators establish a direct link to the fatal pill that caused Lacourte’s death. Despite the arrests, his mother remains uncertain whether the full chain of distribution will ever be fully uncovered.
Mayor Daniel Lurie has directed heightened law enforcement actions targeting drug users and dealers. Under his administration, distribution of fentanyl smoking supplies is now contingent on mandatory counseling. Yet, the ongoing presence of potent synthetic opioids in street drugs continues to alarm public health officials and families.
Christina Lacourte continues to mourn her son’s passing. She retains a neon “Open” sign that hung over his bed, a poignant symbol of his life. She expressed hope that increased awareness and law enforcement efforts might prevent other families from enduring similar losses, while acknowledging the persistent risks posed by shifting and increasingly dangerous illicit drug markets.