Photo: Dave Basner
It used to be that if you found a dollar bill on the ground, it would be your lucky day, but now, according to some authorities, it might be anything but. Police departments have issued warnings about finding cash, urging people to just keep walking and not to touch it.
The Lane County Sheriff's Office in Kansas was one that sent out a warning to residents after an incident there. They posted on Facebook, "In recent years, there have been numerous reports of people discovering folded one dollar bills that contain illegal and potentially dangerous drugs. While using folded money or paper to transport drugs has long been a common practice, the emergence of substances like Fentanyl has made it exceptionally hazardous." The post continued, "Earlier this afternoon, a citizen contacted the on-duty Deputy to report that they had found a folded one dollar bill in their yard. Upon unfolding it, a white substance spilled out. The bill was confiscated and field tested positive for Methamphetamine. Further field tests for Opiates and Fentanyl were negative."
The post concluded, "It is important to remain vigilant about potential hazards in your surroundings."
If you're thinking it was just an isolated incident, that isn't the case. Other police departments have posted about similar occurrences and warned communities about the dangers of handling Fentanyl. They aren't alone - the Drug Enforcement Administration also put out a warning in 2016 that stated, "Fentanyl can be absorbed through the skin or accidental inhalation of airborne powder can also occur. Just touching fentanyl or accidentally inhaling the substance during enforcement activity or field testing the substance can result in absorption through the skin. The onset of adverse health effects, such as disorientation, coughing, sedation, respiratory distress or cardiac arrest is very rapid and profound, usually occurring within minutes of exposure." Three years later, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention released a similar warning.
Even though there have been many warnings, it is important to note that, according to the American College of Medical Toxicology and the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, those warnings aren't really accurate, and the risk of exposure to Fentanyl causing any adverse effects is actually very low. One study shows it would actually take 200 minutes of breathing Fentanyl at very high concentrations to have an effect, and that effect would not be fatal.
Either way, you should still always be mindful about any cash you find - there is a chance it is too good to be true.