U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, for the District of Montana, and Billings Police Chief Rich St. John issued a warning to the public on Tuesday, March 19th about the appearance in the community of pink fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is more potent than morphine and heroin.
Law enforcement is beginning to see pink fentanyl pills in Billings. Noted for their pink color, the pills are more potent than the fentanyl that has been seen in the community. Many of these illicitly produced synthetic opioids can result in overdoses and death.
“It has become far too common for us to see illicit fentanyl as a blue pill, but synthetic opioids can come in all forms and colors,” explained U.S. Attorney Laslovich in a press release. “We are now seeing pink fentanyl pills and they’re even more potent and deadly than the fentanyl pills we’ve previously seen in Montana. All of us must remain vigilant in the fight against fentanyl, as one pill can kill you. Please don’t take any pill that is not prescribed to you by a medical professional. Our office stands shoulder to shoulder with the Billings Police Department in the battle to save lives and to stop the widespread trafficking of this poison in our community,”
“The emergence of pink fentanyl presents a new and serious challenge for the law enforcement community,” explained Chief St. John in the press release. “The practice of mixing pink fentanyl with other street drugs has created a major public health concern. The increased potency has deadly results. Our officers, along with our law enforcement partners and supported by the USAO, are working tirelessly to reduce the amount of these dangerous drugs in our community and hold offenders accountable,”.
Additional information about fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/fentanyl
If you have information about pink fentanyl and its distribution, please contact your local Police Department. Tips also may be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers.
