Five students at a Virginia elementary school received medical attention after they reportedly ingested fentanyl-laced gummy bears.

“The incident happened Tuesday at Central Elementary School in Amherst, a town north of Lynchburg,” Fox News reports.

The Amherst County Sheriff’s Office says seven students in total “experienced a reaction to ingesting gummy bears at school.”

In exams conducted by law enforcement, the gummy bears “tested positive for fentanyl.”

Fox News reports:

“Of the seven students, five needed medical attention. Two of the students were transported by EMS and three of the students were transported by their parents,” the sheriff’s office added, noting that an investigation of the incident is ongoing.

Amherst County Public Schools said in a statement that the affected students “experienced an allergic reaction” and emergency services were notified immediately.

The district said it confirmed that the bag of gummy bears “was brought from home by a student.

“We will work with the Sheriff’s Office as they continue their investigation,” it added. “The families of the students have been notified of the results.”

WATCH:

Just the News added:

Two people – Nicole Sanders and Clifford Dugan – are in custody over the incident, according to local TV station WSLS 10. Sanders has been charged with contributing to delinquency, child abuse and drug possession, while Dugan was charged with contributing to delinquency, child abuse and possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

The students’ conditions are unclear at this time.

The incident comes after the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a warning last year on what it called the “alarming emerging trend” of rainbow fentanyl “made to look like candy to children and young people.” Meanwhile, the DEA said in another report that six out of 10 fake prescription pills it tested contained a potentially lethal fentanyl dose. Earlier this year, the group Families Against Fentanyl found that U.S. children under the age of 14 are dying from fentanyl at a faster rate than any other age group.

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