Student Affairs

Penn State students cautioned on brightly colored 'rainbow' fentanyl

Rainbow fentanyl is an emerging trend used by drug cartels to sell fentanyl — disguised as candy — to children and young people. Coming in the form of pills, powder and blocks resembling sidewalk chalk, rainbow fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Credit: Drug Enforcement AdministrationAll Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Following a recent press release from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Penn State students are cautioned on the presence and dangers of brightly colored fentanyl known as “rainbow fentanyl.”

Rainbow fentanyl is an emerging trend used by drug cartels to sell fentanyl — disguised as candy — to children and young people. Coming in the form of pills, powder and blocks resembling sidewalk chalk, rainbow fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

Fentanyl is sometimes mixed with other illicit drugs and made to look like prescription drugs.

“Unless a drug is prescribed by a licensed medical professional and dispensed by a legitimate pharmacy, you can't know if it’s fake or legitimate,” said Linda LaSalle, director of Penn State Health Promotion and Wellness. 

According to the DEA press release, fentanyl is the “deadliest drug threat facing this country” because of its “highly addictive and potentially deadly” nature. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 66% of the 107,622 drug overdose deaths that occurred in 2021 were a result of synthetic opioids like fentanyl. 

Those who encounter fentanyl are advised not to handle it directly and call 911.

“If a student is concerned that another student may be experiencing a drug overdose, they should call 911 immediately and stay with the person,” LaSalle said. “If the person who calls is also using illegal substances, they will not face formal student conduct or legal action if they take action to get help.”

The DEA launched a “One Pill Can Kill” campaign in 2021 to combat the dangers of fake pills. It also offers resources on its Fentanyl Awareness webpage and information about the dangerous impacts of the drug.

“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,” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in the press release.

Penn State’s Health Promotion and Wellness department, a unit of Student Affairs, also offers a variety of substance use education and information resources on its website. 

Students who want to get help for cannabis or alcohol use and do not have a violation can attend Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students or the Marijuana Intervention Service at no cost. Appointments at Health Promotion and Wellness can be made by calling 814-863-0461.  

Students also may receive treatment or referral services by calling Counseling and Psychological Services to schedule a phone screening appointment at 814-863-0395.

If you know someone who is experiencing a nonmedical urgent concern with alcohol or drugs or is in a mental health crisis and needs immediate support, call the 24/7 Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text “LIONS” to 741741. For medical emergencies, call 911 or locate your closest emergency department.

Last Updated September 19, 2022