A rainbow of colored fentanyl pills.

Garfield County Sheriff's Office urges caution on Halloween

PRESS RELEASE
October 24, 2022

With Halloween less than a week away, it is good to remember a few precautions that might keep you or your child from becoming a victim.

1) While door-to-door trick or treating may be fun and exciting you are exposing yourself to the possibility of receiving “bad” treats, but also auto/pedestrian encounters that do not favor the pedestrian. The darkness of night provides opportunities for bullying and the potential for personal injury, accidental or otherwise. There is a higher probability of a personal attack at night.

2) Whenever possible limit your trick or treating to established venues, shopping malls, churches, organized “Trunk or Treat” venues (often organized by municipalities or civil groups), etc.

3) Even from these venues, do not accept or eat anything that is not “commercially wrapped”. Inspect the treats for signs of tampering. Check for unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers and throw away anything that looks suspicious.

4) Be aware of the introduction of drugs that may look like candy, be brightly colored and even flavored to taste like mint, pineapple, strawberry or peach etc. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), large quantities of fentanyl have recently entered our country with just these characteristics.

5) The DEA notes, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. Without laboratory testing, there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder.

6) Enjoy the Holiday but be smart, be careful and be aware.