Should You Be Worried About ‘Rainbow’ Fentanyl in Temple, Texas?

Brightly colored 'rainbow' fentanyl pills that look like candy have some parents in Temple, Texas and the surrounding area worried this Halloween.

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While the Temple Police Department told KWTX they have not found drugs resembling 'rainbow' fentanyl pills in Central Texas, that doesn't mean parents don't need to be on alert during and around the holiday. Temple Police Department Officer Martina Malone says, “If it looks like it’s been open, just throw it out. There’s no sense in harming yourself or your children.” You should also avoid any treat that isn't in a traditional candy wrapper.

Trick or Treating Safety Tips

• Have an adult with children at all times during Halloween events
• Take photos of your child or children with and without costumes for identification purposes in case of separation during activities
• Check neighborhoods on online databases before visiting them

What is Fentanyl?

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, fentanyl is a prescription drug that is also made and used illegally, similar to morphine, but 50 to 100 times stronger. Like morphine, it is a medicine that is typically used to treat patients with severe pain, especially after surgery. Synthetic drugs, including fentanyl, are now the most common drugs involved in drug overdose deaths nationwide. Communitycaretx.org reports that the main danger of fentanyl is due to the fact that extremely small doses can be toxic, and all the ways that the drug can be distributed, including pills, powders, and liquids.

Alternatives to Trick-or-Treating

You could also attend local Halloween events instead of going door to door in neighborhoods. The City of Temple’s Fright Fest is from 6 to 8pm on Monday, October 31st in downtown Temple's Santa Fe Plaza.