Ahead of Halloween, Police Warn Parents of Rainbow-Colored Fentanyl ‘Candies’1
A number of cases of fentanyl pills disguised as candies have been recently identified with the Pasadena Police Department in September seizing more than 300,000 fentanyl pills, including brightly-colored “rainbow fentanyl” that looks like candy.
On Oct. 12, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and New York law enforcement officials announced the seizure of 300,000 pills of “rainbow fentanyl” in an apartment.
Most recently, local authorities seized some 12,000 suspected fentanyl pills packaged in popular candy boxes at the Los Angeles International Airport on Oct. 19.
Alfonso Mendoza, another captain at the Hollenbeck Division, stressed that it’s parents’ responsibility to take care of their kids’ safety.
“And really at the end of the day, make sure that you’re inspecting your children’s candy so that it is safe and let them enjoy it,” he said.
He also suggested that kids stay in groups, “where it’s well lit, walking down the sidewalk, staying out of the streets, especially dark streets.”
Every Halloween parents have told their kids not to eat unopened candy, and it was common practice to dump out young trick or treaters’ bag to inspect that all the candy is sealed, without any signs of tampering. This year is no different.
Below is a tweet from LAPD
According to data from DEA, just 2 mg of fentanyl can be fatal.
Fentanyl is the number one killer of adults between the ages of 18 and 40 in the United States. It’s also the leading cause of drug overdoses among Californians, including teens.
With multiple incidents of “rainbow fentanyl,” federal law enforcement is concerned that drug traffickers are using these candy-like synthetic opioids to lure children.
Of course, according to Joel Best, Ph.D., a professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware, it is just a “myth that parents have to worry about finding drugs in their kids' Halloween candy.”2 Sounds like someone who either has no kids or lives sheltered in a private gated community.
Although I do not agree that it is “just a myth”, I do believe the chances of coming across tainted candy is relatively slim, and following safe practices nearly eliminates that risk.
The much larger risk is crime. Delaware’s crime rate has been steadily ascending, mostly in part due to weak on crime policy and broken family structure, void of a positive male role model3 in their life.
Take a moment to admire this fine gentleman who opened his own school at only 21 years old to be that positive influence4 🔥
In Wilmington, there were a total of 1,591 violent crimes reported in the city for every 100,000 people in 2020, well above the national average that year of 399 per 100,000 people.
I write this as a “Public Service Announcement” with no intentions of adding anxiety to an already contentious time.
There is no need to be paranoid, but it is always a wise practice to be aware of your surroundings.
Go trick or treating in an area you know and feel safe. Go during daylight, and if it will be getting dark, have the kids wear a light, such as a glow stick or a flashing light.
Most importantly, have fun and….
Have a safe and exquisite Halloween!
