AMHERST COUNTY, Va. - A shocking incident at Central Elementary School in Amherst County, Virginia, left seven elementary school students ill after consuming gummies contaminated with fentanyl during lunch. The caregivers of one of the students were subsequently arrested in connection with the incident.

The incident took place on Tuesday when a fourth-grade student shared his gummies with six other students during lunchtime. Shortly after consuming the gummies, the children started experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and muscle spasms, resulting in five of them being rushed to nearby hospitals.

Kristina Wright, the mother of one of the affected fourth graders, expressed her anger and concern for her child's safety. She emphasized that, as parents, their primary responsibility is to protect their children from such dangers.

According to Superintendent Dr. William Wells, the suspect gummies did not test positive for fentanyl, but traces of the drug were discovered in the bag they came in. Law enforcement officials determined that a caregiver had packed a food item in a Ziploc bag, which was then shared among the students. It is believed that the contamination occurred either at home or during transportation to school.

The Amherst County Sheriff's Office conducted two tests on the bag of gummies, and both tests yielded positive results for fentanyl. Investigators concluded that the source of the contamination was not the school itself but rather someone's house.

Fortunately, all five students who were hospitalized were released later that same day and are now recovering. However, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that substances like fentanyl pose, even in unexpected places like an elementary school.

In connection with the incident, the caregivers of the child who brought the contaminated gummies to school, Clifford Dugan Jr. and Nicole Sanders, were arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Court records indicate that Dugan is also facing an additional charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, while Sanders faces a separate charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Authorities stressed that this type of behavior is utterly unacceptable, and they are committed to bringing justice to those responsible. Lt. Dallas Hill of the sheriff's office emphasized that efforts will be made day and night to ensure accountability for such acts.

In response to the incident, the school district is implementing additional measures to prevent any similar occurrences in the future. Superintendent Wells has instructed all principals to emphasize to their students, especially elementary school children, the importance of not sharing food. Furthermore, the district plans to increase its supply of Narcan, an opioid overdose reversal drug, as a precautionary measure.

The incident has raised concerns about the presence of fentanyl within the community and the alarming extent of its impact, even affecting elementary students. Superintendent Wells questioned how such a potent drug had made its way into an elementary school, highlighting the broader societal issues surrounding drug abuse.

Although the fentanyl contamination was contained to the bag of gummies, the school undertook a thorough cleaning as a precautionary measure. This incident serves as a chilling reminder of the need for heightened awareness and vigilance within communities to safeguard the well-being of children.

As the investigation continues, the affected students and their families are receiving support from the school district and local authorities. The incident has sparked a call for increased efforts to educate children about the potential dangers of sharing food and the importance of staying vigilant in an increasingly unsafe world.