One of the ways candy appeals to younger generations is by having bright colors. It captures the eyes and looks harmless. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration reports that drug cartels are now creating rainbow-colored pills in an effort to target younger generations. Rainbow fentanyl, as it is called, is incredibly potent and addictive.
What You Should Know About Rainbow Fentanyl
Fentanyl which has a rainbow color is no safer than any other form of the opioid. It is very dangerous because just a small amount of the drug can overwhelm the body. It is 50 times more potent than heroin and as much as 100 times stronger than morphine. Across the U.S., over 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in the year ending in April 2021. Over 75,000 of those deaths were related to opioids.
Those who take fentanyl are likely to feel a sense of euphoria, which triggers cravings and ultimately (and often quickly) addiction.
DEA Warning of Access
The DEA warned in August of 2022 that colorful fentanyl pills were becoming more readily available throughout the U.S. This trend is a new method to sell the addictive substance while making the drug look like candy. The pills range in size and tend to have bright colors and unique shapes. Rainbow fentanyl is available in pill, powder, and block forms, often looking much like sidewalk chalk that children play with during the summer.
The DEA states that these drugs are being manufactured specifically to target children and younger people. That’s why it’s critical for parents to take the time to talk to their children about these risks.
How to Talk to Young People About Fentanyl
Rainbow fentanyl has been found in middle schools and high schools in the U.S. Take the time to discuss its risks with your children and family members:
- Drugs can look like candy. They can be brightly colored and look much like Smarties, Skittles, or Sweet Tarts.
- Don’t eat anything offered to you that is not from a sealed package that you open yourself.
- The drugs can be sold in powder form, which may look like harmless sugar-like substances with coloring. They are not harmless.
Talk about the specific dangers of fentanyl and other drugs with your young adults. Recognize that, even for adults, it is easy to fall for these drugs. Yet even one dose can be life-threatening.
What to Do If You’re Using Fentanyl
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s often prescribed by doctors for short-term use to relieve intense pain, such as pain from surgeries or difficult disease treatments. The drug carries a very high risk of addiction, which is why most people will take the smallest dose possible and minimize the length of that use.
However, fentanyl’s highly addictive qualities make it one of the drugs many drug cartels and organizations push the heaviest. In some areas, purchasing these drugs for misuse is common, creating a risk for addiction and dependence. If you are using fentanyl, you can get help.
Contact a drug treatment center offering fentanyl addiction treatment and detox. Many people will need to spend 3 to 10 days in detox working through the dependence. Treatment can be effective, and your body can heal from these substances and dependence over time with therapy and support.
Keep in mind that fentanyl can cause an overdose, even on the first dose. Those who are purchasing drugs off the streets are particularly at risk because the consistency and potency of these products range widely and are rarely controlled. Even if the pills look like a prescription, they may not be. Because of the high risk of overdose, reach out to a treatment center for immediate help if you are using fentanyl. Let us help you to break through these challenges.
The Ranch at Dove Tree offers alcohol and drug treatment in Lubbock, Texas. If you are experiencing addiction, let us help you to rebuild your future.
