In Thursday’s edition of the Butler Eagle, staff reported on the latest attempt by drug traffickers at targeting children — rainbow fentanyl.

The deadly pills resemble SweeTarts or Skittles, and could be ingested by a young child or someone thinking they are eating candy. The county District Attorney is warning parents, youths, school officials and anyone else who works with children or teens to be on the lookout, and rightfully so.

Luckily, as of Wednesday, the problem hasn’t emerged in Pennsylvania. However, if the grave issues surrounding opioids have proven anything, it’s that illegal substances have a tendency to move very quickly.

The only way to power through is the same way that got us through the thick of a pandemic: together. With trick-or-treating looming, be vigilant with your children, but also with their friends.

Some of us remember our parents cornering us 15 or 20 years ago about other drugs disguised as candy. Others remember the conversation being about razor blades. The story of candy being tampered with is not a new one, but what is growing increasingly more dangerous is how lethal it is becoming.

Children are growing up in a very volatile era. Depending on age, some have no idea what the rest of us consider “normal” for childhood. Parents are doing their best, and have a warning about this potential threat thanks to the District Attorney, but how easy will it be for them to explain yet another threat to their child’s health?

With the current inflation, some parents are still working round-the-clock to bring home an income substantial enough to support a family. With that kind of stress, some things are bound to slip beyond notice. It’s not for any lack of trying, but simply because we are human, not superheroes.

Though the problem has not yet been reported in Butler County, look out for all the children in your life, as well as parents who may not have as much time to spend with their children as they’d like.

Perhaps we can keep a problem from becoming a catastrophe closer to home.

– CM