Julie Humphreys, Public Safety Communication Manager, 509.625.5868
Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at 4:55 p.m.
Several Law Enforcement Agencies in the United States (Arizona, Oregon, California, and Washington DC) have encountered multi-colored counterfeit pills, which have shown positive for Fentanyl in laboratory testing. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Many of these counterfeit pills are pressed with an “M”, “M-30”, or “30” on to the front. The pills are manufactured in both pastel and bright shades of primary and secondary colors and resemble and/or are described as the popular candy “Skittles”, “Tarts”, or “Sidewalk Chalk”. With Schools starting up again in the Spokane region, the Spokane Police Department wants to alert our community of this concerning drug trend. These pills can cause lethal overdoses and all community members should be aware of the threat the pills present. Please remind everyone, especially children, that you should only take pills prescribed by your Physician or over the counter pills that are sealed. Counterfeit pills are responsible for thousands of US deaths per year, and have surpassed heroin and methamphetamine as the highest threat based on lethality, inconsistent potency, and inaccurate dosing. If you come in contact with these pills please contact 911, Crime Check, and then go to www.takebackyourmeds.org for proper instructions on narcotic disposal. If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, resources are available to assist. Please contact your nearest medical provider for additional information.
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