The Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently issued a press release advising the public of the quickly spreading trend of multi-colored fentanyl pills and powders. These are being referred to as “Rainbows,” or “Skittles,” and resemble legitimate candy.
According to the release, “In August 2022, DEA and other law enforcement partners seized brightly colored fentanyl in 18 states. This appears to be a new method used by drug cartels to sell highly addictive and potentially deadly fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people.”
Fentanyl is an ongoing concern not just nationally but statewide and in Navajo County.
Navajo County Chief Deputy Sheriff Brian Swanty said recently, “Fentanyl use is up all over the country and all over the state and specifically in Winslow.”
As of Aug. 30, the Arizona Department of Health Services (AZDHS) reports five overdoses in the Winslow primary care area in the last six months. That is up from the same report in June and is compared to only three in Flagstaff.
Swanty said, “In the calendar year 2021, MCAT (Major Crimes Apprehension Team) seized 674,345 pills. In the first seven months of 2022, January through July, MCAT seized 1.5 million pills. This severe increase is consistent with the increase of seizures across Arizona.”
County Attorney Brad Carlyon said, “A decade ago, the major threat to our county was meth (methamphetamine). Now, it is absolutely opioids, a drug that pharmaceutical companies told us was okay.”
The DEA press release continued, “Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat facing this country. 66% of drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021 were related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Drug poisonings are the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.”
Law enforcement reports that fentanyl comes in multiple forms including pills, powders and blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk. According to the DEA, there is no indication certain colors are more potent than others. However, the press release read, “Every color, shape and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous.”
As Swanty explained, “The intention of the drug traffickers is to appeal to adolescent aged people. One purpose of the multi-colored and counterfeit pills is to disguise the drugs from the historic method of drugs looking obvious as drugs. The other purpose is their marketing campaign making them look like candy. Multi-colored and green pills are being observed in Navajo County. They are referred to as “Rainbow” “Skittles” and “hulk.”
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and a very small amount of the drug can be fatal.
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) lists symptoms of opioid overdose as:
* Small, constricted pinpoint pupils.
* Falling asleep or loss of consciousness.
* Slow, shallow breathing.
* Choking or gurgling sounds.
* Limp body.
* Pale, blue or cold skin.
In the event of a recognized overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately and if available, administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available at law enforcement agencies around the county and at the Navajo County Public Health Department locations in Holbrook at 117 E. Buffalo St. and in Winslow at 619 E. Third St.
