Oct. 9—The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a warning about an alarming trend of colorful fentanyl becoming available across the nation.

The DEA and its law enforcement partners seized the brightly colored fentanyl and fentanyl pills in 18 states in August. Dubbed "rainbow fentanyl," the trend 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.

Although the drug has not yet been reported in Schuylkill County, local law enforcement officials warn parents and adults to be alert, especially during Halloween season.

"Parents especially need to be cautious before letting their children eat anything they get," Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael A. O'Pake said. "If they have any questions or concerns, just throw it away."

O'Pake said the fact that drug dealers are making potentially fatal drugs to look like candy is unheard of.

"These drug dealers stooped to a new low by making it look like candy," O'Pake said. "What kind of person would target children just to make more money?"

The district attorney said fentanyl is one of the most dangerous and deadly illegal drugs available today.

Several years ago, drug dealers — some in Schuylkill County — made fentanyl pills to look like the pain killer Oxycodone, O'Pake said. They went so far as to have the branding match. He said people believed they were taking the pain killer when they were actually digesting fentanyl, a much stronger drug.

O'Pake said the drug makes the heavy-duty pain killer morphine seem mild.

"Fentanyl is morphine on steroids," he said.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

According to the DEA, just two milligrams of fentanyl — something equal to 10 or 15 grains of table salt — is considered a lethal dose.

Schuylkill Haven Police Chief Jeffrey Walcott stressed the dangers of fentanyl and its increased use, not only in Schuylkill County but throughout the country. Rainbow fentanyl becoming available will only add to the problem.

"They are victimizing our children by making it look like candy," he said. "Children make up the most susceptible portion of our population."

Walcott said parents and adults should only allow their children to eat candy and other items that are sealed and come from a well-known source.

Producing fentanyl to look like candy can only have the purpose of attracting children and young adults into addiction.

"They're making a direct attack on our youth. There's no other reason for it," Walcott said.

Anne Milgram, head of the DEA, said rainbow fentanyl pills and powder come in a wide variety of bright colors, shapes and sizes.

She called the creation of the drug "a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults."

Brightly-colored fentanyl is being seized in multiple forms, including pills, powder and blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk.

Despite claims that certain colors may be more potent than others, Milgram said there is no indication through laboratory testing that this is the case.

"Every color, shape and size of fentanyl should be considered extremely dangerous," she said.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III explained that fentanyl is the drug of choice on the streets today, even more than heroin and methamphetamine.

"This drug is our main concern right now," he said. "Heroine and methamphetamine are on a downslide."

Deputy Coroner Erin Cuff researches "designer drugs" and said the majority of illegal narcotics in the area makes its way from Philadelphia to Allentown and eventually into Schuylkill County.

"I'm 100 percent sure it will filter up our way," Cuff said.

Cuff said one of the major problems is that drug dealers are using fentanyl almost exclusively, sprinkling it into marijuana and making pills in a "pill press" to look like Xanax and other drugs.

"People are buying heroin or another drug when in fact they're buying fentanyl or something that contains an animal tranquilizer," she said. "People are literally losing limbs shooting up with this junk."

Although rainbow fentanyl and "pink cocaine" are designed to target the teenage or younger population, the drugs will probably not be given away for free, such as to youngsters treat-or-treating.

"No dealer wants to give drugs away for free. They will try and sell them to the younger people and get them addicted," Cuff said.

However, Cuff said the items children get for Halloween must be examined by an adult with anything questionable disposed of.

"Anything can happen, and we have to be aware of that," she said. "The dealers have no shame."

According to the DEA, fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 107,622 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, with 66% of those deaths related to synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, which are the leading killer of people between the ages of 18 and 45.

Authorities urge that anyone who may come into contact with fentanyl in any form not to handle it and call 911 immediately.

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