Rainbow fentanyl is a growing issue across the country and, here, in the Northstate, and it targets young people.
Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency's (HHSA) Supervising Community Education Specialist, Amy Koslosky, said they have been working with the Redding Police Department (RPD) and they have had cases of rainbow fentanyl in our community.
Rainbow fentanyl can come in powders and liquids, but the most common form is colorful pills that can look like candy. Its goal is to target young people.
According to the HHSA, those in the 25-34 age group had the highest amount of opioid overdose incidents every year with 74 overdose incidents in Shasta County for that age group in 2021. From 2019 to 2020, opioid overdose incidents increased by 37%. Then from 2020 to 2021, opioid overdose incidents increased by 125%.
Fentanyl accounted for 56% of all opioid-related deaths. With how dangerous this drug is, Koslosky said it’s extremely important to only take prescriptions prescribed to you by your doctor.
“Even if it looks like a prescription pill, if it’s not prescribed to you by your provider, your doctor and dispersed to you through a pharmacy, it can contain fentanyl or other dangerous illicit drugs,” Koslosky said. “So, make sure you get your drugs from your doctor and or sources that you can trust.”
The state department of public health has sent out a letter to all schools warning them about the dangers of the new drug. Koslosky said these trends are ever-changing which is frustrating but why education is so important.
“Drug trends are exactly that they’re trends, it’s a moving target,” Koslosky said. “It’s especially frustrating for public educators and parents when you’re also trying to educate yourself and your family about the dangers. So this is just one more thing to be aware of but especially important because of the rainbow colors and the terms people are using to describe them.’
She said these pills can also be called "skittles" and "sweetarts" which is important for parents and educators to be on the look for.
Now for parents at home, Koslosky said suggested sitting down with your kids one at a time depending on age and having a conversation about the dangers of fentanyl and rainbow fentanyl.
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