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What is rainbow fentanyl?
Colorful pills drive new warnings about deadliest drug in the US |
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A new wave of concern has
spread across the United States over multicolored “rainbow fentanyl” pills, powders and
blocks – that look similar to candy or sidewalk chalk
– being sold and used in several states, potentially posing a threat to young
people. But parents of young children
should not panic. The emergence of this product is just one small part of the
larger opioid crisis. Rainbow fentanyl comes in
bright colors and can be used in the form of pills or powder that contain
illicit fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid that’s intended to help
patients manage pain. It’s extremely addictive and potentially deadly if
someone overdoses while trying to achieve a high. This multicolored fentanyl may
appeal to young people or fool them into thinking it’s safe, but experts say
illicit fentanyl has been hiding in other products for a long time, and
fentanyl is fentanyl: It’s all dangerous, no matter the color. “Colored fentanyl pills have
been around for a few years. Typically, they’ve been blue pills labeled ‘M30’
to counterfeit oxycodone, which is a much weaker opioid,” Joseph Palamar, an
associate professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone Health, who has studied
trends in illicit fentanyl, said in an email to CNN. “I think the big difference
people are concerned about is with regard to accidental ingestion. People are
worried that their kids will take one of these pills thinking they’re another
drug or even thinking they’re some sort of candy,” Palamar said. “I don’t think
the color of the pills greatly increases danger to people who don’t use
fentanyl, but there is always a possibility of someone who uses fentanyl
leaving their pills around in the reach of children." “We need to keep in mind that
these pills cost money, so people aren’t going to be throwing them on the
ground for kids to find. I don’t think people will be giving these pills out
as Halloween candy.” |
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