What Is Rainbow Fentanyl?

In August 2022, drug enforcement authorities noted that pills containing the fentanyl were being manufactured in various colors. Commonly known as rainbow fentanyl, these pills come in a variety of bright colors, shapes, and sizes. So, what are rainbow fentanyl pills and why are they such a threat to kids and young adults? It’s important to understand the dangers of prescription opioids and explore treatment options that can help you or someone you know recover from fentanyl addiction.

What Is Fentanyl?

Fentanyl is a frequently prescribed opioid painkiller that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Its remarkable strength makes it an effective treatment in 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 opioid 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 ability to manage pain, experience happiness, and feel pleasure.

The unparalleled potency of fentanyl, coupled with its euphoric effects, results in a high potential for abuse, dependence, and addiction. Regrettably, the prescription drug’s highly addictive nature has propelled it to the forefront of the opioid crisis. Now, fentanyl is the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States.

What are Common Slang Terms for Fentanyl

While fentanyl can be taken safely for prescribed medical use, its role in illicit drug use continues to rise. Like all prescription and illegal drugs found on the black market, fentanyl is know by a variety of street names. Common slang terms for fentanyl include:

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

These aliases often change from one region to next, assisting in the concealment of its underground circulation. They also highlight fentanyl’s popularity and widespread misuse. For this reason, it’s essential to recognize and understand the dangers associated with fentanyl. Increased awareness, education, and access to evidence-based treatment options are all crucial components of addressing the challenges of 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

Many people wonder, “What does prescription fentanyl look like ad how is it taken?” There are many different types of prescription fentanyl, including:

• 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. It is also sold as powder, on blotter paper, as tablets that look like other prescription medication, or as a liquid.

It is important to note that fentanyl should only be prescribed by a trained healthcare professional. This is because fentanyl — both as a prescription and as an illegal drug — has a high potential for abuse and can lead to overdose if not taken as directed.