The Drug Enforcement Administration is alerting the general public of an rising development of colourful fentanyl out there throughout the United States.
In August 2022, the DEA and legislation enforcement started seizing brightly colored fentanyl and fentanyl tablets in 18 states. Officials mentioned the development appeared to be a brand new technique used by drug cartels to promote fentanyl that appears like sweet to youngsters and young people.
“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.
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Brightly colored fentanyl is being seized in a number of kinds, together with tablets, powder, and blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk. The DEA mentioned regardless of claims that sure colours could also be stronger than others, there isn’t any indication by means of DEA’s lab testing that that is true.
Fentanyl is an artificial opioid that’s 50 instances stronger than heroin and 100 instances stronger than morphine. According to the DEA, fentanyl stays the deadliest drug risk within the nation. The CDC mentioned 107,622 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, with 66 % of these deaths associated to artificial opioids like fentanyl.
For extra information and assets on fentanyl consciousness, go to the DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness web page.