Debunking Halloween Myths
Urban legends and “scary” stories about Halloween have been around for years. We’re debunking these Halloween myths and other scary urban legends that circulate in the news.
Rainbow Fentanyl
The US Drug Enforcement Agency recently announced that Mexican drug cartels were targeting children by distributing “rainbow fentanyl” pills that resemble candy. They urged parents and caregivers to be on the lookout for these drugs. This goes along with their year-old “One Pill Can Kill” campaign about fentanyl that began last year. Undoubtedly, fentanyl is a dangerous, deadly drug that can easily kill someone that takes it. However, the DEA and other law enforcement agencies have acknowledged that the colorful, rainbow variety have been around for years and are not newly being aimed at children. They also have nothing to do with Halloween, though the candy theme may have seemed that it did.
Black Cats Beware
Black cats have long been associated with Halloween, witches and even bad luck. Families have been told to lock up their pet black cats beginning a few days before Halloween. This is seemingly to prevent them from being pet-napped and used for some unknown scary ritual. There is little evidence of this type of crime, however animal shelters also keep black cats from being adopted this time of year. This may be to prevent them being used as costume props or Halloween ambiance, but also just to err on the side of caution. Some urban legends are powerful enough to create real fear.
Poisoned Candy
One of the scariest Halloween urban legends is that a crazy neighbor is poisoning Halloween candy to give to random trick-or-treaters. It’s so scary because kids fear their candy will be confiscated! There has been only one case of someone actually poisoning Halloween candy—but it wasn’t random. It was a father who intentionally spiked his son’s Pixie Stix with cyanide, hoping to collect a huge insurance payout. Sadly, the son ended up dying, and the father was ultimately sentenced to the death penalty. Importantly though, there have been true instances reported of sharp objects, like razorblades and glass, being inserted into candy wrappers. So make sure to check for any tampering of that kind before letting kids enjoy their trick-or-treating haul.
LSD-laced Temporary Tattoos
Since the 1970s there have been various versions of the rumor about drug dealers handing out lick-and-stick temporary tattoos laced with LSD. There were even cartoon warnings created over the years. From Mickey Mouse to Bart Simpson, each generation is warned about a cartoon tattoo that may be tainted. This particular myth seems to come back again and again, though there are no reports of any child being exposed to drugs by licking a tattoo. Snopes.com has an informative article about tattoos and several other articles debunking Halloween myths.
We certainly hope your family and pets stay safe this Halloween! Cultris Security is here to help with all of your security and safety needs. Give us a call at 281-506-8466 or contact us online.
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