Johnson County, Missouri, sheriff’s office warns of “purple fentanyl”
Deputies in Johnson County, Missouri, are informing residents of a drug threat after “purple fentanyl” was seized in the area.
The “purple fentanyl,” discovered by the Johnson County Missouri Sheriff’s Office crime resolution team, consists of fentanyl and may be mixed with lidocaine, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office believes the substance originated from the Kansas City area, according to the post. Narcan is ineffective against the substance, they said.
“Unlike traditional opioids such as fentanyl, this purple version may include lidocaine, a local anesthetic that blocks nerve signals but does not respond to Narcan,” the post said.
The purple color of the substance is “likely a marketing ploy,” serving to appeal to potential users, according to the post.
The substance may “intensify” the side effects of other drugs, according to the post.
This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 7:03 AM.
