SBSO WARNS PUBLIC ABOUT COLORFUL FENTANYL PILL THAT LOOKS LIKE CANDY, OFFERS HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS

With Halloween and trick-or-treating approaching, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann wants to warn the public about the alarming emerging trend of colorful fentanyl pills popping up across the United States.

“These pills could easily be mistaken for candy by a child,” the Sheriff said, “and ingesting just a single piece could be deadly.”

While many experts say it’s unlikely the opioid will land in your children’s Halloween basket, parents still need to be on the lookout for it.

Known as “rainbow fentanyl,” the brightly-colored drug is being seized in multiple forms across the country, including pills that look similar to sweet tarts, powder, and even blocks that resemble sidewalk chalk.

According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. And without laboratory testing, the DEA said, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder just by looking at it.

Sheriff Pohlmann said there’s also a concern that teenagers could become more interested in trying drugs laced with it because of its bright, colorful appearance.

“In addition to worrying that small children may mistake rainbow fentanyl as candy or a toy like chalk, we’re also very concerned teenagers may be tempted to try the drug due to its playful coloring,” the Sheriff said.

If you encounter fentanyl in any form, the Sheriff said do not touch it or handle it in any way and call 911 immediately.

Additional resources for parents and the community can be found on DEA’s Fentanyl Awareness page. https://www.dea.gov/fentanylawareness

Sheriff Pohlmann said the Sheriff’s Office is working hard to ensure residents have a safe Halloween by stepping up patrols throughout the parish and offering some safety tips as well.

As it has for years, the Sheriff’s Office will step up DWI and traffic enforcement on highways and in neighborhoods the weekend prior to Halloween, leading up to and on Monday, Oct. 31, for the protection of trick-or-treating children and adult party-goers.

“Motorists are asked to slow down, be extra cautious and be especially mindful of pedestrians,’’ the Sheriff said.

Drivers should also look for possible roadblocks or barricades in neighborhoods, and are urged never to move them or drive around them, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Parents also should be vigilant about where they allow their children to venture while trick-or-treating and should always travel in groups.

Here are some Halloween safety tips offered by the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office:
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2022-10-06 13:16:09