PORTLAND, OR -- A new form of a popular drug is now in Oregon, concerning law enforcement. During a search in northeast Portland this week, Multnomah County deputies found cash, weapons and drugs, including a multi-colored powder commonly called “rainbow fentanyl.” The Sheriff's Office says, "We’ve been hearing about this over the last six months, about it working its way up the west coast. It is now here in Portland. The people that we end up dealing with and talking to on the street that we catch with this say that this is kind of what people want now."

He says powdered fentanyl is more dangerous than the better-known blue tablets, "It’s stronger and it almost looks like cocaine, but it’s actually fentanyl powder." Rainbow fentanyl is dyed attractive colors like blue, orange, pink and yellow. And, deputies say what they found this week matched the color and consistency of sidewalk chalk, "My worry is that kids are going to be affected more so than users that we deal with on the street. Because, if this shows up at a party or some other places where they’re not familiar with what they’re dealing with, it could have deadly consequences."

Fentanyl and other drugs are frequently trafficked to Central Oregon through Portland.