A day later, the same photo was published on the pages "Srpska cast" and "Glas naroda": The photo appeared on the private profile of someone named Vladimir Grujic and on the page “Tuzla”, on April 27: With an impressive total count of 70,000 shares, these posts on social networks inspired articles on some websites. "Herzegovina info" published an article entitled "A worrying photo is circulating on the Internet" on February 23 at 11:44 AM. A few hours later, the same article was published by the website "Crna hronika", and then by "Vasa stranica". All articles consist of a photo and text that we have already seen on social networks, and just one additional sentence:If something like this is offered to your children, tell them not to take these "candies", that is ecstasy, a very strong synthetic drug. Share on, maybe we can save someone.
Be it true or not, make sure to keep an eye on your children and warn them not to take candy from strangers.
What is ecstasy?
MDMA or ecstasy is a semi-synthetic psychoactive drug, considered a "recreational drug" and is most commonly associated with nightclubs and entertainment with electronic music. Precisely because of its "party" reputation, it is often produced in the form of colorful tablets in various shapes. The fact that some of these "packages" resemble candies and sweets intended for children has nothing to do with the intention to "trick" or "offer them to children". Ecstasy is an illegal substance and, like other illicit narcotics, is bought and sold on the illegal market. The very idea that "dealers" would simply give out a relatively expensive illegal product to young children is pretty pointless.
So, the photos scaring parents these days on Facebook have been completely taken out of context, and a fictional story originating in the UK and the US was added to accompany them, and then translated and shown as a threat present in the countries of former Yugoslavia. The photos used for this fictional story come from a page that is very clearly profiled as a place to share experiences of drug use, and there is no evidence, or even any indication, that any of these pills were presented as child candy, or that someone tried to "offer it to the children", as stated in numerous Facebook warnings. Articles that were created from these completely unfounded posts from social networks are therefore rated as fake news. (Author: Emir Zulejhić, Raskrinkavanje.ba)The “ecstasy in Halloween candy” warning appeared to be a variant of age-old rumors about poison (and other dangerous substances) being randomly handed out to children in trick-or-treat loot, a persistent but largely baseless fear that’s dogged Halloween celebrations for decades. Despite long-held beliefs that Halloween candy tampering is commonplace, reports of actual attempts to do so are virtually non-existent (or based on half-truths).