Seven elementary school children at Amherst Elementary School in were exposed to Fentanyl-contaminated gummy bears that a fourth-grade student brought to school. Clifford Dugan and Nicole Sanders have been arrested in Virginia.
(photo: Jackson Local Schools)
The Amherst Elementary School Incident Starts to Take Shape
Five of the seven fourth-graders at Amherst Elementary School needed medical help on Tuesday after eating gummy bears that were infected with Fentanyl that were brought in by another student.
Clifford Dugan and Nicole Sanders were arrested in association with the event and are being charged with contributing to the delinquency or abuse of a child. Along with the drug charges, Dugan is also accused of having a gun while a convicted criminal, and Sanders is accused of having a schedule one or two drug.
Officials said that Clifford Dugan and Nicole Sanders were arrested after a search request was granted during the investigation into the gummy bear incident at Amherst Elementary School that was tainted with Fentanyl.
READ ALSO:Â Two arrested after seven Virginia students eat fentanyl-contaminated gummy bears
Opioid Risks and Student Safety in Schools
William Wells, the superintendent of Amherst County, said that a student brought the candy to school and shared it with six peers during lunch. As a result, five of the students got sick, threw up, had headaches, and had muscle cramps.
Even though the gummy bears did not contain any foreign drugs, a residue found in the bag was proven to be Fentanyl. This shows how dangerous synthetic opioids can be in school settings.
Out of the five kids who needed medical help, two were taken by paramedics and three were driven by their parents. All of them were released the same night, and parents said their kids were fine after eating the Fentanyl-tainted gummy bear.
READ ALSO:Â Virginia 4th graders fall ill after eating gummy bears contaminated with fentanyl
