Halloween is just around the corner, which means costumes, candy and drugs? Hopefully not, but there is a possibility. The drug fentanyl has on many occasions been made to look like everyday candy. Fentanyl death rates have been on the rise in the US. Should you worry though? 

Fentanyl is an extremely addictive drug which more and more people are overdosing and dying from. Fentanyl cases have skyrocketed in recent years within the United States. However, data has not been released by the NJ Department of Health and NJ Attorney General’s Office on fentanyl cases in NJ in 2022, so we would have no idea if NJ cases have risen this year.

In the states like Texas and California, young adults and teens’ deaths have risen. However, this is not because of Halloween candy. Fentanyl can be a very expensive drug to obtain, and addicts wouldn’t bother using it on unsuspecting trick or treaters. The chances of picking up fentanyl while trick or treating are not high. It is more likely that kids would accidentally mistake their older siblings fentanyl for candy or teens would accidentally ingest it at a party. 

In the past, fentanyl cases in New Jersey have only been moderate when compared to other states, but that doesn’t mean people should not be vigilant. While you shouldn’t be worried about fentanyl in your Halloween candy, you should be cautious towards random candy you find anywhere. It is never safe to ingest anything when you don’t know where it came from, but with the rise in accidental fentanyl overdoses, now is the time to be more vigilant than ever. Stay safe.