What You Need To Know About ‘Rainbow Fentanyl’ And Its Dangers For Children

“Rainbow Fentanyl Pills” is a brightly-colored version of the powerful opioid that has been driving the overdose epidemic. It has now hit the Bay Area, causing concern for public health and law enforcement professionals.

Experts say that Rainbow Fentanyl is as deadly and powerful as any street fentanyl, but the rainbow version is a marketing strategy to make the drug look more appealing. It sometimes looks like Skittles candy or Fruit Loops cereal.

Illicitly produced rainbow pills can be deadly in any color. Some drug experts are concerned that too much attention is being paid to the dangers posed by rainbow fentanyl. “Kids are taking pills and some are dying from them.

The rainbow fentanyl DEA doesn’t have any evidence that the colors were intended to be attractive to children. Fentanyl is available in a variety of colors, and research has shown that this is one way drug users can identify the potency of illicit drugs. It’s keeping them safe because they know exactly what they get for each color.

Children are already at high risk of fentanyl

According to an April analysis in JAMA, the U.S.’s annual overdose deaths among teenagers aged 14-18 has increased in recent years. It rose from approximately 490 in 2019 and to around 950 in 2020. Fentanyl is a growing factor in teen overdose deaths. In fact, the drug was responsible for more than two-thirds (or more) of all overdose deaths in 2021.

How to keep your kids safe from it

• They can be brightly colored pills or chunks of sidewalk chalk. They can look like something a child would love. These little items can be seen by children and thought to be like SweeTarts.
• It is important to keep all drugs out of reach of young children.
• Talking openly with teens about illicit drugs is a good way to protect them. Teens need to be aware that illegally obtained drugs may contain fentanyl. Even a small amount can cause death.
• Parents may also want to keep Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal medication Narcan, on hand. This drug can save lives.
• Rainbow fentanyl-addicted youth may use illegal drugs to deal with an addiction or mental-health disorder. Parents should be alert for warning signs.
• Prevention is better than cure, so making sure children get support for mental-health issues is one of the best ways you can protect yourself from drug abuse.

Rainbow Fentanyl: The Risk

The Rainbow pill drug is a synthetic opioid that can be prescribed to treat severe pain. Fentanyl can be 50 times more powerful than heroin and 100x stronger than morphine. It is effective for pain relief, but it is also more susceptible to overdose if taken in excess.

Fentanyl-related death and overdose are frequently linked to illegally manufactured and sold fentanyl, which is often mixed with heroin or cocaine.