In just the last week, new seizures of brightly colored rainbow fentanyl pills have parents everywhere on Halloween high alert.

That’s because the potentially deadly drugs are masquerading as candy and even hidden in packages of name brand sweets, like skittles.

The local drug testing experts at Any Lab Test Now want to ease parents concern over Halloween candy collection while educating them about the real danger the drug poses. To do so, they’ve launched the Facts About Fentanyl education campaign.

Fentanyl overdoses in the United States are at record highs, and so are deaths associated with the drug starting with people as young as 15! 

What is the origin of fentanyl?

Pharmaceutical fentanyl was created in the 1950’s as a surgical anesthetic and is used today to treat patients with chronic severe pain or extreme pain post- surgery. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than other opioids like morphine or oxycodone. Medical fentanyl comes in many forms, including skin patches, lozenges, or liquid like nasal sprays. With appropriate use as prescribed by a provider, fentanyl is safe and effective for pain relief.

Synthetic fentanyl is made in illegal labs and smuggled into the U.S. primarily through Mexico. It is mixed into other illegal drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine to increase the potency. Sometimes the drug is pressed into pills and made to look like legitimate prescription opioids.

Why is synthetic fentanyl so deadly?

Just two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal depending on a person’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. 

Forty-two percent of opioid knockoff pills tested for fentanyl contained at least 2 mg of fentanyl, considered a potentially lethal dose.

The most dangerous side effect of fentanyl is it can cause you to stop breathing, which can lead to death.

The signs of fentanyl poisoning are extreme sleepiness; trouble breathing (it may sound like choking); slow, shallow breathing; cold, clammy skin and unresponsiveness to pain or a person’s voice.

Should parents be worried about fentanyl laced candy showing up in their kid’s trick-or-treat bags?

According to the DEA, no. There are many alarming posts on social media about rainbow fentanyl being found in packages of candy and toys. Experts say the tactic is a way for drug cartels to attempt to smuggle the drugs across the border undetected. The shipments are meant to go to drug traffickers who sell the stuff for big bucks. Children are not the target. Drug smugglers have historically gone to great lengths to hide their stash, from coconuts stuffed with marijuana to asparagus cans filled with cocaine.

However, law enforcement, as they do every year, suggests children should not dig into their bounty until an adult has inspected it to make sure the sweets are safe. If anything suspicious is found, parents should secure it, and notify the police.

What should you do if you suspect a loved one is using drugs that could be mixed with fentanyl?

If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one, Any Lab Test Now^® has expanded its drug screening options to include advanced testing for fentanyl. These tests are recommended for those who are concerned about suspected abuse or misuse of drugs by a friend or family member, including teenagers. Individuals who think they may have been unknowingly given a drug should also consider these tests.

Testing at Any Lab Test Now is always confidential. You own the results and no one else will see them.