College is full of new experiences. For many students, that means going to parties, meeting new people, trying new things and learning how to make decisions independently. But there are some things that are worth thinking twice about before experimenting with them.
Recently, universities and college communities across the country have been sharing warnings about counterfeit pills and contaminated substances. At West Virginia University, a September 2026 Community Notice specifically addressed drug and alcohol safety, warning students about counterfeit pills, illicit substances, accepting substances from others, leaving drinks unattended and knowing how to respond if someone experiences an overdose. The important takeaway is simple: you cannot always know what is in a substance simply by looking at it.
This Is Not Just a “What If”
For some college students, this issue is not hypothetical. Recently, a WVU student experienced an overdose after taking a substance that was believed to contain an emerging synthetic opioid. According to information shared with university organizations, the student required multiple doses of naloxone before being revived.
The student’s identity is being kept anonymous out of respect for their privacy. But the incident is an important reminder of how quickly an unfamiliar or contaminated substance can turn into a medical emergency.
It also highlights something that is easy to forget in a college environment: you may not be the person taking a substance, but you could still be the person who has to respond when something goes wrong. Knowing the signs of an overdose, knowing where to find Narcan, and knowing when to call 911 can make a difference when every second matters. That is why understanding what “laced” means, and understanding the limitations of trying to identify an unknown substance, is so important.
What Does “Laced” Actually Mean?
When a substance is described as “laced,” it means that another substance has been added to it. This can expose someone to a drug they never intended to take. This is especially concerning with illegally obtained pills and other drugs. Counterfeit pills can be manufactured to look like legitimate prescription medications even though they contain completely different substances. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that illegally manufactured fentanyl is commonly found in counterfeit pills and can also be mixed with other illicit drugs.
The problem is that dangerous substances are not always visible. A pill can look familiar. A powder can look normal. A drink can look completely fine. That does not necessarily mean that it is safe.
A New Concern: Cychlorphine
One substance that has recently received attention from public health and law enforcement officials is cychlorphine, an emerging synthetic opioid. The American College of Medical Toxicology reports that cychlorphine emerged in the United States in late 2025 and has since been identified in multiple states. The organization has also reported that cychlorphine can be found alongside other substances, including opioids and stimulants.
One important concern is that cychlorphine cannot be detected by standard fentanyl or nitazene test strips. This means that a negative fentanyl test does not guarantee that a substance is free of other dangerous synthetic opioids. The Drug Enforcement Administration has also warned about cychlorphine and other emerging synthetic drugs appearing in the illicit drug supply. According to the DEA, these substances may be mixed into counterfeit pills or other illicit drugs without the user’s knowledge.
This does not mean that every substance is contaminated or that cychlorphine is confirmed to be present in Morgantown. It does mean that students should understand that the illicit drug supply can contain substances that are difficult to identify.
What Might You Encounter in College?
College students may encounter many different substances, including prescription medications, counterfeit pills, marijuana products, cocaine, MDMA and other drugs. However, recognizing what a substance is supposed to look like is not the same as knowing what is actually in it.
Counterfeit pills can be manufactured to resemble prescription medications, including pills that have similar colors, shapes, markings and packaging. Their appearance does not make them legitimate. The CDC recommends only taking prescription medications that were prescribed to you and obtained from a legitimate pharmacy. In other words, don’t rely on a pill’s appearance to tell you what is inside.
Alcohol Safety Matters Too
Drug safety isn’t the only concern at college parties. Alcohol can become dangerous when someone drinks too much or too quickly, and students should also be cautious about accepting drinks from other people or leaving their drinks unattended.
WVU recommends keeping your drink in sight, not accepting drinks from people you don’t know or trust, keeping track of how much you have consumed and using the buddy system when going out. If you are concerned that something has been added to your drink or that you may have consumed something unintentionally, stop drinking it and get help.
You also don’t have to be drinking yourself to help keep people around you safe. If a friend becomes extremely intoxicated, cannot stay awake, is vomiting while unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, it may be a medical emergency. Do not assume they can simply “sleep it off.”
Know the Signs of an Overdose
One of the most important things you can do is recognize when something is seriously wrong. Possible signs of an opioid overdose include:
- Being unable to wake up
- Slow, shallow or stopped breathing
- Choking, gurgling or unusual snoring sounds
- Very small or “pinpoint” pupils
- Limpness
- Discolored lips or fingernails
If someone is unconscious or having trouble breathing after taking a substance, treat it as an emergency. You do not need to know exactly what the person took before calling for help.
What Should You Do?
If you believe someone is experiencing an overdose:
- Call 911. Do not wait to see whether the person wakes up.
- Give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose. If the person does not respond, additional doses may sometimes be necessary.
- Stay with the person. Do not leave an unconscious or overdosing person alone.
- Follow the 911 operator’s instructions. If the person is not breathing normally, emergency dispatchers can guide you through what to do until emergency personnel arrive.
- Tell emergency responders what you know. If you know what the person took, how much they may have taken or when they took it, tell medical personnel. If you don’t know, that’s okay. Getting help is still the priority.
“But What If I Get in Trouble?”
One reason people may hesitate to call for help during an overdose is the fear of getting themselves or someone else in trouble. At WVU, the university’s Medical Amnesty Policy provides protections in certain circumstances for students who seek emergency medical assistance for someone experiencing an overdose. The policy has specific requirements, so students should familiarize themselves with it before an emergency occurs.
West Virginia law also provides limited immunity from prosecution for certain offenses when a person seeks emergency medical assistance for someone who reasonably appears to be experiencing an overdose and meets the requirements established by law. The important thing to remember is that if someone needs emergency medical attention, call 911. Getting medical help should never be delayed because you are trying to figure out what might happen afterward.
Narcan Isn’t Just for People Who Use Opioids
You don’t have to use drugs yourself to carry naloxone. You could be with a friend who unknowingly takes a counterfeit pill. You could be at a party where someone else makes a dangerous decision. You could simply be the person who happens to be there when someone needs help. Having naloxone available gives you another tool to respond to an emergency.
WVU provides access to naloxone through ONEboxes located throughout campus, including locations such as residence halls, the Mountainlair and the Student Rec Center. WVU also provides educational resources related to substance use, overdose prevention and recovery.
Carrying Narcan does not mean you expect an overdose to happen. It means you are prepared to respond if one does.
What About Fentanyl Test Strips?
Fentanyl test strips can be one harm-reduction tool for detecting fentanyl in certain substances, but they have limitations. A negative result does not mean that a substance is automatically safe. Test strips are designed to detect particular substances, and they may not identify other dangerous drugs.
Cychlorphine is one example. According to the American College of Medical Toxicology, standard fentanyl and nitazene test strips do not detect it. Testing can therefore provide information, but it cannot guarantee that an unknown substance is safe.
The Bottom Line
There is no reliable way to look at an unknown pill or substance and guarantee that it contains exactly what someone says it does. Counterfeit and contaminated substances can expose people to drugs they never intended to take, and emerging substances can make an already unpredictable drug supply even harder to navigate. That doesn’t mean college students need to be afraid of every party or every night out. It means being informed matters.
Know what you are consuming. Don’t accept unknown substances from other people. Keep track of your drinks. Stay with your friends. Know the signs of an overdose. Know where to find naloxone. And if something goes wrong, don’t wait.
Call 911. Get help. Stay with your friend. You don’t have to experiment with what you don’t know, and you don’t have to know exactly what went wrong to know when someone needs help.
Works Cited
American College of Medical Toxicology. “ToxIC NOSE Report #22: Cychlorphine: An Emerging Opioid.” American College of Medical Toxicology, 2026.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Fentanyl.” Overdose Prevention, 9 June 2025.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Preventing Opioid Overdose.” Overdose Prevention, 2024.
Drug Enforcement Administration. “Public Safety Advisory.” United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 12 May 2026.
West Virginia Legislature. “§16-47-4. Limited Immunity from Prosecution.” West Virginia Code.
West Virginia University. “WVU Issues Community Notice with Safety Tips About Drug, Alcohol Use.” WVU Today, 23 Sept. 2026.
West Virginia University. “Medical Amnesty.” Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, West Virginia University.
West Virginia University Police Department. “Stay Safe on Game Day with These Tips.” West Virginia University, 3 Sept. 2026.