The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recently sent a message to the public warning about new forms of fentanyl that have begun circulating in Oregon, Alaska and Idaho, and expects to see it in Washington as well.  Sadly, this deadly drug is targeted towards children and young adults. These versions of the drug are formulated in brightly-colored pills, powders, and blocks that have been termed "rainbow fentanyl" in many media reports.

Fentanyl also comes disguised in the form of fake pills, manufactured to look like prescription medications such as Oxycontin, Vicodin and Xanax. While it remains unclear of the use in the Snoqualmie Valley area, we strongly encourage you to have direct conversations with your children about the dangers of fentanyl. Here are two great resources to help prepare families for those discussions:

• Laced and Lethal Website

• Stopoverdose.org
  
  

Drug overdoses continue to climb across the nation, with fentanyl deaths leading the charts. Taking steps to inform children and young adults about what these drugs are, what they look like, and their extreme danger has a critical impact in preventing overdoses and tragedies.

If you ever encounter someone who may be experiencing an overdose, call 911 immediately. It's important for youth and adults alike to know that calls for medical help will not result in legal consequences under Washington State's Good Samaritan Law. If you encounter what you believe to be fentanyl in any form, do not handle it and call 911.

You can learn more about fentanyl on the DEA's website.