Deadly ‘Rainbow Fentanyl’ Looks Like Candy, Could Entice Kids

By Sydney Murphy HealthDay Reporter
HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 1, 2022 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning the general public that colorfully dyed fentanyl — dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” — is available throughout the United States.

“Rainbow fentanyl — fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes — is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” mentioned DEA administrator Anne Milgram.

“The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States,” Milgram added in an company information launch.

The DEA and different regulation enforcement officers seized brightly coloured fentanyl and fentanyl capsules in 18 states in August. The confiscated medication embrace capsules, powders and blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk.

Despite assertions that some colours could be stronger than others, DEA laboratory testing has discovered no proof to help these claims. Still, fentanyl is extraordinarily harmful, regardless of the colour, form or dimension, the DEA mentioned.

An artificial opioid, fentanyl is 100 occasions stronger than morphine and 50 occasions stronger than heroin. A deadly dose of fentanyl is considered as little as 2 milligrams, or about 10 to fifteen grains of desk salt. It is inconceivable to find out how a lot fentanyl is concentrated in a capsule or powder with out conducting laboratory testing, in response to the DEA.

Moreover, fentanyl stays essentially the most deadly drug risk to the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 107,622 Americans overdosed and died in 2021, with artificial opioids like fentanyl the reason for 66% of these deaths. Drug poisoning is the main reason for dying for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.

If you encounter any type of fentanyl, chorus from dealing with it and name 911 instantly, the DEA suggested.

More data

The DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness web page lists further neighborhood and parental sources.

SOURCE: U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, information launch, Aug. 30, 2022