"Colored" Fentanyl is New Threat

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes has passed along information from the Illinois Department of Public Health about new threat related to fentanyl.

A colorful version of Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, has been introduced to the illicit drug market and is being referred to as “colored” or “rainbow” fentanyl. Colored fentanyl is showing up in the form of pills closely resembling candy and colorful chalk. 

The rainbow-colored fentanyl pills have been identified in multiple states including CA, OR, WA, ID, AZ, NC, WV, Washington DC, and most recently, St. Louis, MO. 

Significant concern of accidental ingestion by young children due to the rainbow colors and candy-like appearance.

Children are more susceptible to an overdose due to their smaller size, weight, and lack of tolerance of regular opioid users. The lethal dose of fentanyl for a child is smaller than the lethal dose for an adult. 

Adults are encouraged to talk to children and teens about the dangers of ingesting unknown substances