In August 2022, drug enforcement authorities noted that pills containing the fentanyl were being manufactured in various colors. Called “rainbow fentanyl,” these pills and powders come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes. What are rainbow fentanyl pills and why are they such a threat to kids and young adults? It’s essential to comprehend the gravity of this issue and explore avenues for seeking help.

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a frequently prescribed opioid painkiller 50 to 100 times stronger than morphine. Its remarkable strength makes it effective for managing the most severe forms of pain, such as breakthrough cancer pain and post-surgical pain. However, fentanyl’s strength also contributes to the unfortunate prevalence of fentanyl addiction.

As a member of the opioid family of medications, fentanyl functions by blocking pain receptors in the brain while simultaneously increasing the production of dopamine. Dopamine, a crucial brain chemical, plays a pivotal role in regulating the learning and reward system. It also significantly influences our capacity to manage pain, experience happiness, and derive pleasure from various activities.

The unparalleled potency of fentanyl, coupled with its euphoric effects, sets the stage for addiction potential. Regrettably, this increased addictive nature has propelled fentanyl to the forefront of the opioid crisis, establishing it as the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States.

Street names associated with fentanyl further highlight its presence in illicit drug use:

• China white
• China girl
• TNT
• Crush
• Dance fever

These aliases contribute to the underground circulation of the drug, reflecting its popularity and widespread misuse. It’s essential to recognize and understand the dangers associated with fentanyl, both in its prescribed medical use and its illicit presence in the realm of substance abuse. Increased awareness, education, and access to support are crucial components of addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by fentanyl addiction.

Fentanyl Statistics

Fentanyl remains the deadliest drug threat facing this country. According to the CDC, 107,622 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2021, with 66 percent of those deaths related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Drug poisonings are the leading killer of Americans between the ages of 18 and 45.  Fentanyl available in the United States is primarily supplied by two criminal drug networks, the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Fentanyl has been implicated in overdose deaths because it is commonly used to lace other drugs, like heroin. Frequently, people do not even know that fentanyl is in the drug they are taking. This results in many unintentional overdoses.

Campus Drug Prevention, an initiative by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), says that fentanyl-laced cocaine is a particular concern across college campuses today. If you use any illicit drug, there is the possibility that it is laced with fentanyl.

Popular Name Brands and Routes of Administration of Fentanyl

What does prescription fentanyl look like and how is it taken?

• Actiq: Known as fentanyl lollipop, this is administered under the tongue for quick pain relief. It’s used for patients who are already taking painkiller medication.
• Duragesic: Designed in the form of a skin patch, this type of fentanyl is prescribed to treat severe to moderate pain, with the effects lasting as long as three days.
• Sublimaze: Hospitals administer this form of heroin through an IV injection to manage pain before and after surgery.
• Subsys: This sublingual spray is administered under an individual’s tongue to deliver pain relief immediately for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain.
• Abstral: Primarily used for opioid-tolerant patients who experience breakthrough cancer pain, this comes in tablet form that dissolves quickly by being placed under the tongue.
• Lazanda: This fentanyl nasal spray gets into a person’s system quickly.

Illicit fentanyl sold on the street is usually found in pill or tablet form. Illegal fentanyl may sometimes be sold in brightly colored pills called “rainbow fentanyl.” In fact, you may have seen Google searches including terms like, “rainbow fentanyl Arizona,” “rainbow fentanyl Tennessee,” or “rainbow fentanyl Connecticut,” because of its prevalence in these areas.