**PUBLIC SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT**

The Butler County District Attorney has notified the Butler City Police Department of Fentanyl pills that look like candy. Fentanyl is a powerful opioid narcotic that is being distributed by drug traffickers in Butler County. Dealers are mixing Fentanyl with other drugs including heroin, cocaine and marijuana. In some instances, pure Fentanyl has been seized from dealers. Contact with Fentanyl can be deadly. The majority of drug overdoses that occur in Butler County involve Fentanyl. 

Multi-colored Fentanyl pills were recently seized in the United States called "rainbow" Fentanyl. Rainbow Fentanyl has and can resemble multi-colored candies such as Skittles, Sweet Tarts, Smarties, etc. 

Rainbow Fentanyl was first noticed by law enforcement in the United States in February of this year. In late September 2022, approximately 15,000 rainbow Fentanyl pills were seized in New York City. 

The Butler County District Attorney, Butler City Police Department, other agencies, want the public to be aware of this. The above mentioned do not want anyone dying, getting sick or other from consuming, handling rainbow Fentanyl, either accidentally or intentionally. 

Nobody should take loose candy from anyone else, including someone they trust. Candy should only be eaten from the original, undamaged wrapper. When in doubt, the candy should not be eaten.

In addition to the document received by the Butler County District Attorney's documentation of this warning, theamberalert.com and other sources have been referenced to advise on how to check to see if candy can be considered safe for consumption. 

To check candy, it is recommended to check the Trick or Treat haul outside of the view of children. They may not understand that you are looking out for their safety. They may try to sneak an unchecked piece or look for discarded candy that you deemed to be a risk. 

First, throw out, discard anything that was homemade in a receptacle that children do not have sight of or access to.

Second, check for any obviously opened, unwrapped, damaged, has a strange appearance or looks off in packaging. Even if the wrapper was accidentally opened, you cannot successfully check the candy. throw out, discard any of these items in a receptacle that children do not have sight of or access to.

Third, check the entirety of the wrapper for any obvious or small, punctures, tears, pin holes, rips or any type of damage however small that may have allowed access for someone to tamper with the candy. Discard any of these items in a receptacle that children do not have sight of or access to.

Fourth, conduct an air seal check on the candy wrapper in multiple places. This can be done by gently squeezing a section of the wrapper to force the air in the packaging to one side. If the air  leaks out to any extent, you missed a damaged section of the wrapper. Do the same on the other side. If there are any issues with this discard the items in a receptacle that children do not have sight of or access to. 

Fifth, make sure any candy that you have deemed to not be tampered with is safe and age appropriate for the child that is intending to consume it. There are several types of candy that are small and can cause a choking hazard for small children. This includes any toys that have been passed out that may cause a choking hazard. If the child is going to play with any toys received, thoroughly wash of and rinse the toys before allowing the child to play with them. There are types of Fentanyl that can be absorbed via the skin. Fentanyl quickly crosses the blood brain barrier, regardless of how it gets into the body.  

If rainbow Fentanyl or any other type or form is consumed, ingested, introduced to the body, 911 should be called immediately. 

Common symptoms of a Fentanyl overdose can present as one, multiple or other than mentioned of the following:

-Stupor (dazed or nearly unconscious)

-Pupil constriction

-Cold and clammy skin, looking pale

-Stiff or limp body

-Cyanosis (blue/purple tint to the skin, lips or fingernails)

-Vomiting 

-Gurgling sounds

-Frothing at the mouth

-Slowed or absent breathing

-Coma

-Slowed or stopped heartbeat

-Death

The above symptoms can be caused by other health related ailments and do not necessarily mean an overdose is occurring. These are just common symptoms. Call 911 if someone needs emergency medical care related or unrelated to overdose.