Drugs in Halloween Candy: Safety Tips and What to Look Out For

Trick-or-treating season is back, and so are the fears surrounding Halloween candy safety. Each year, stories of tainted treats surface before the holiday and spread through social media like wildfire. Parents respond by pouring their children’s candy on the floor, sliding each piece to the side one by one, making sure not to miss any pills, needles, or razors.

But is there any truth to these stories? Are the rumors real or just urban legends?

Here, you’ll discover the history of tainted Halloween candy, the origins of these stories, and what to watch for in packaging that may have been tampered with.

Is Tainted Candy a Rumor or Is There Truth to It?

Experts at the University at Albany say that rumors of tainted Halloween candy are largely unfounded.[1] There is no evidence that anyone is planning to disguise illicit drugs as candy for trick-or-treaters.

The rumor appears to have started after the DEA issued a warning in August 2022 about fentanyl being disguised as candy, although the original announcement did not mention Halloween.[2] Social media amplified the warning, and the story eventually reached the Senate, prompting conflicting statements from public authorities despite the lack of supporting evidence.

Professor Joel Best of the University of Delaware, who has studied this phenomenon for decades, confirms that he has never found evidence of intentional candy tampering.[3] There was, however, one case in Texas in which a man poisoned his son’s Halloween candy and tried to blame someone else.[4]

Overall, experts agree that drug dealers who profit from illegal street drugs such as fentanyl, ecstasy, and other opioids have little incentive to give them away for free, particularly to see what would happen if a child ingested them accidentally.

What Is the History of Dangerous Halloween Treats?

According to an article titled “How Americans Became Convinced That Their Halloween Candy Was Poisoned,” the History Channel explored the origins of this urban myth.[5] Professor Joel Best and his colleague Gerald Thoruichi conducted an extensive study on Halloween-related fears and found that such threats have always been greatly exaggerated.[5]

These fears tend to spike during periods of heightened public anxiety. For example, in the 1980s, a series of Tylenol poisonings occurred when cyanide-laced acetaminophen was placed back on store shelves and sold to unsuspecting customers.[5] This incident led to the introduction of childproof medicine bottles and tamper-proof caps. Following this event, warnings about adulterated Halloween candy increased, according to the History Channel.[5]

At the height of these fears, hospitals across the country even offered free X-rays on Halloween to ensure candies were safe from objects such as needles, razor blades, or pins.[6] These X-ray screenings reportedly cost an estimated $1.4 million nationwide.[6]

Should I Be Concerned About Drug-Laced Halloween Candy?

While it is wise to be on the lookout for anything suspicious in your child’s Halloween candy — since children may occasionally be the target of pranks — there is no need to be overly concerned about contaminated treats.

However, adolescents seeking to purchase illicit substances, such as fentanyl or edibles, may disguise them in candy packets, as was the case in 2022 when the DEA seized rainbow-colored fentanyl pills hidden in Skittles and Nerds packages. Children who encounter these packages could mistakenly believe they are candy, putting them at risk of accidental overdose.

Attorney General Ashley Moody recommends that parents follow these safety tips around Halloween:[7]

• Throw away any candy that has been opened or tampered with
• Keep your children in your sight at all times
• Teach your children to call 911 in an emergency

What Kind of Drugs Are Found in Halloween Candy?

Although there have been isolated incidents of poisoned candy, like the 1959 case in California, when a dentist handed out laxative-laced candy that affected over 30 children, these events are extremely rare.[8] There is no reason to believe that your children’s Halloween candy will be intentionally tainted with drugs.

While there are adulterated drugs on the market that are sometimes disguised as candy to pass border inspections, these substances are manipulated only to get through screenings. They are intended for sale by drug dealers, not for distribution among trick-or-treaters.

How to Know If Your Candy Is Laced?

According to CSU Channel Islands, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your child’s candy isn’t laced:[9]

1. Instruct your children to wait until they get home for you to sort and check their treats.
2. Toss out any candy that has an unusual appearance or discoloration.
3. Throw away any packages that contain small pinholes, rips, or tears.
4. Throw away any homemade or baked goods.
5. Teach your children not to accept anything that isn’t sealed and wrapped.
6. Instruct them not to eat candy you haven’t inspected.

There is no way to know if a piece of candy has been laced or adulterated. So when in doubt, throw it out.

What Are the Signs of a Drug Overdose?

According to the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control in Oklahoma, a person suffering from a drug overdose may display the following signs:[10] 

• Difficulty waking up
• Difficulty breathing
• Bluish skin, lips, or fingernails
• Snoring loudly
• Vomiting
• Gurgling or choking noises
• Irrational behavior
• Fever

If someone you know is displaying the signs, the best thing to do is call 911. Do not allow them to sleep it off, and do not leave them alone.

What to Do if Someone Ingests Drug-Infused Candy?

It is unlikely that you or your child will ingest drug-laced candy while trick-or-treating. However, it is possible to overdose on illicit drugs disguised as candy. Although they may appear harmless, these substances can contain dangerous amounts of fentanyl, which can lead to a life-threatening overdose.

If you or someone you know has knowingly purchased illegal street drugs, recognize the signs of an overdose and contact emergency services immediately. If you have Narcan, administer it to anyone suspected of overdosing on an opioid.

Using illegal street substances carries serious risks. Continued use, despite knowing the dangers, can lead to substance use disorder. The sooner you seek help, the lower your risk of experiencing a life-threatening overdose.

To learn more about how we can help, contact Southeast Detox GA today.