Dealers are distributing fentanyl in Hawaii made to look like rainbow-colored candies

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - A federal agency has put out a warning saying that a deadly drug that looks like candy is being distributed on Hawaii Island.

The drug threat bulletin said that a shipment of suspected powdered fentanyl was recently smuggled in along with a large quantity of rainbow-colored counterfeit pills.

Officials say fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that’s 50 times more potent than heroin, and 100 times more potent than morphine.

According to the CDC, more than 70,000 Americans including 41 here in Hawaii died of drug overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl last year.

The bulletin also warns first responders to be ready for an increase in overdoses, to wear protective equipment, and to carry Narcan for treatment.

The so-called rainbow fentanyl is becoming a nationwide problem, and officials said the suspected powdered fentanyl has lead to multiple fatalities.

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