Package mailed to rural California elections office tested positive for fentanyl, authorities say ( apnews.com )

Authorities are investigating a suspicious envelope sent to the elections office in Yuba County on Wednesday morning that might have contained fentanyl.

...

The package appeared to come from “a verified agency” and didn’t look suspicious at first, but a staff member discovered a powdery substance inside that prompted them to call law enforcement, said Yuba County spokesperson Rachel Abbott. A field test showed the presence of fentanyl, but authorities will conduct further analysis to confirm. Abbott said no one was harmed.

...

Election officials and workers across the country have increasingly faced threats and harassment since former President Donald Trump and his supporters began spreading false election claims after he lost the 2020 election.

Many election offices across the United States have taken steps to increase the security of their buildings and boost protections for workers. Facing the threats of fentanyl-laced packages, some have started stocking up on naloxone, the antidote to fentanyl.

RaoulDook ,

FYI it is a myth that fentanyl is dangerous to touch. By itself, it does not contain anything to cross the skin barrier. It has to be made into a skin-applicable version like a patch for that to work.

Basically all the fearmongering about people touching fentanyl and passing out or dying is fake news. It mostly comes from cops of course.

Lifecoach5000 ,

I know right? People keep hyping this up like it’s anthrax or some shit.

Habahnow ,

That's more or less my understanding of fentanyl as well, so my question is, why is it being treated as a dangerous chemical? The article seems to imply the building was evacuated. Would they have done the same had Cocaine been sent to these buildings?

24_at_the_withers ,

Because a LOT of people have fallen for the fearmongering.

nilloc ,

The cops either do know it’s a farce, but have a vested interest in keeping up the farce. Or they fell for the farce and genuinely think it’s as dangerous as sarin gas.

Hanlon’s razor says we should assume stupidity, but we are dealing with ACABs so it’s a tougher call.

circuscritic ,

It's an urban legend that has been converted into an active disinformation campaign by Law Enforcement, the media, and politicians to gin up a moral panic to increase support, funding, and reinvigorate the war on drugs.

LilB0kChoy ,

Ha! Jokes on them then because I’d argue the better response is to just legalize and regulate it. That way those who want drugs can be sure to get them without dangerous additives.

autotldr Bot ,

This is the best summary I could come up with:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a suspicious envelope sent to the elections office in Yuba County on Wednesday morning that might have contained fentanyl.

The envelope was sent to the Yuba County Registrar of Voters headquarters, about 40 miles (70 kilometers) north of the state Capitol in Sacramento.

The package appeared to come from “a verified agency” and didn’t look suspicious at first, but a staff member discovered a powdery substance inside that prompted them to call law enforcement, said Yuba County spokesperson Rachel Abbott.

Many election offices across the United States have taken steps to increase the security of their buildings and boost protections for workers.

Yuba County officials said workers undergo training on how to identify and handle suspicious packages.

“I trust that law enforcement authorities will identify and bring to justice any persons responsible for seeking to intimidate, threaten, or harm election workers,” Weber said in a statement.

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