Fentanyl Laced Halloween Candy . . . Is it in Hardeman County?

Every year there’s a fear of Halloween candy being poisoned and this year is no different as rainbow fentanyl has become the latest tainted candy scare.

“Rainbow fentanyl – fentanyl pills and powder that come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes – is a deliberate effort by drug traffickers to drive addiction amongst kids and young adults,” said Drug Enforcement Administrator Anne Milgram. “The men and women of the DEA are relentlessly working to stop the trafficking of rainbow fentanyl and defeat the Mexican drug cartels that are responsible for the vast majority of the fentanyl that is being trafficked in the United States.”

Senate Republicans recently released a public service announcement video warning parents that “One Pill Can Kill” in order to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl.

But according to our research, the scare might be a bit overblown as Mark Davidson, District Attorney for the 25th Judicial District says, “We’ve not yet seen rainbow fentanyl in Hardeman County or elsewhere in our five (5) county district.” Davidson continued, “Having said that, we are starting a public awareness campaign about the dangers of fentanyl and want everyone to be aware of the dangers it presents, as it is often found in other illegal drugs, such as meth.”

Davidson says parents should exercise caution when candy and food are involved, and recommends the following:

• Snacking: Children shouldn’t snack on treats from their goody bags while they’re out trick-or-treating. Give them a light meal or snack before they head out – don’t send them out on an empty stomach. Urge them to wait until they get home and let you inspect their loot before they eat any of it.
• Safe treats: Tell children not to accept – and especially not to eat – anything that isn’t commercially wrapped. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

To learn more about the dangers of fentanyl, please visit https://thedeadliesthigh.com/. 

If you need information about addiction treatment in your area, please call the Tennessee REDLINE at (800) 889-9789.

Read more local news by clicking here.

Stay informed on what’s happening in Hardeman County by following Hatchie Press on Facebook and Subscribing to Hatchie Press e-mail updates.

Do you have community news you’d like to share? E-mail us at news@hatchiepress.com.