Coverage dated October 10, 2022 to October 14, 2022

'Rainbow fentanyl' just the latest example of bogus Halloween drug scares

Headline from Kansas Reflector, on the newest of 2 developments

Despite regular scares, there's no evidence that tainted Halloween candy has ever harmed American children.

Kansas Reflector's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Oct 11, 2022
Rainbow fentanyl: The newest Halloween scare
Headline from Phys ·
Oct 15, 2022Newest
'Rainbow fentanyl' just the latest example of bogus Halloween drug scares
Headline from Kansas Reflector ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

16 articles, oldest first.

NPR
Is 'rainbow fentanyl' a threat to your kids this Halloween? Experts say no (opens NPR)
Published Oct 10, 2022
NPR's feed description
The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning that drug dealers are marketing rainbow-colored fentanyl to kids. Many drug experts say that's likely not happening.
Fox News
Rainbow fentanyl won't be a threat to kids on Halloween, experts say (opens Fox News)
Published Oct 10, 2022
Fox News's feed description
Fears of brightly colored rainbow fentanyl pills landing in the bags of children on Halloween may be overstated, experts say, arguing most dealers do not target children.
Phys
Rainbow fentanyl: The newest Halloween scare (opens Phys)
Published Oct 12, 2022
Phys's feed description
Every year around the middle of October, reporters start contacting me wanting to talk about rumors of contaminated Halloween treats.
Sioux City Journal
Rainbow fentanyl – the newest Halloween scare (opens Sioux City Journal)
Published Oct 12, 2022
Sioux City Journal's feed description
Like clockwork, September crime news is often cast as an ominous sign of what could happen on Halloween.
NBC 6 South Florida
No, You Don’t Need to Worry About Drugs in Your Kids’ Halloween Candy. Here’s Why (opens NBC 6 South Florida)
Published Oct 14, 2022
NBC 6 South Florida's feed description
The concern that parents have to worry about finding drugs in their kids’ Halloween candy goes back much further than the myth around rainbow fentanyl.
Kansas Reflector
'Rainbow fentanyl' just the latest example of bogus Halloween drug scares (opens Kansas Reflector)
Published Oct 14, 2022
Kansas Reflector's feed description
Despite regular scares, there's no evidence that tainted Halloween candy has ever harmed American children.
Townhall
Is 'Rainbow Fentanyl' a Threat to Kids on Halloween? (opens Townhall)
Published Oct 14, 2022

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.