Drug-laced candy has Bartholomew County authorities urging parents to be vigilant in watching what their children consume. Officials with the Sheriff’s Department say that the candy, Sweet Tarts, may be becoming a popular way for area high-school students to ingest Xanax.

Sheriff Matt Myers says this candy will look like normal candy. He adds that it would be difficult to know if it is laced until it is eaten. The Sheriff went on to say that there may be some candy circulating in the community that is laced with Xanax.

Xanax is used to treat anxiety disorders. Side effects of taking the drug include:

Drowsiness and feeling tired;
Slurred speech, lack of balance or coordination;
Memory problems; or
Feeling anxious

Sheriff Myers says that an Indiana University student was charged last year with selling Xanax-laced gummy candy out of his off-campus apartment. However, local authorities say that the drug-laced candy has only recently appeared in Bartholomew County. The Sheriff says that a 17-year-old Columbus high school student was recently found possessing the candy.

Myers says the candy’s appearance is troubling. “Apparently, the candy’s appearance is not changed by this process,” said the Sheriff. “We are very concerned that someone might overdose if they eat the candy unaware that it has been laced with drugs,” he added. In addition to the Sweet Tarts candy, authorities say that there are reports of drug-laced gummy bears in other nearby communities.

Authorities urge you to monitor your child’s candy intake, especially for younger children. If you think you have drug-laced candy, you should call the authorities.