Is It Safe to Pick Up Money Off the Ground in Montana?

If you're ever out with the kiddos, you know you have to keep your head on a swivel - especially if you're taking them shopping. You can tell them to be on their best behavior and remind them when they act out in the store, but at the end of the day, they're still kids.

They're going to be curious.

"Look Mom/Dad! Money!"

I don't know about you but my little ones love receiving or finding money. If they come across a dollar or are given a few bucks for their birthday, they instantly feel rich. They get excited and start thinking about what they'll do with their newfound wealth - even if it's just $5.

Some of us experience similar excitement when we come across random money in the wild... you know, like finding a random dollar on the ground.

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Most of us know that money is dirty but still, if any one of us were to spot a buck in an Albertsons parking lot, there's a good chance we would pick it up.

But is that a good idea?

Is It Safe To Pick Money Up Off Of The Ground?

I've found a few dollar bills on the ground in my life with the most recent being a dollar bill at the gas station in the same lot as Albertsons. I picked it up but then immediately thought about everything I've ever heard about picking up money on the ground including how it could lead to a drug overdose.

I've seen this being talked about social media but it got me wondering: how could someone accidentally drug overdose from picking a dollar in the parking lot?

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Some believe that any dollar bills used for drugs like fentanyl might have traces left over on the bill, causing an overdose due to the lethal results a small dose of fentanyl can have.

Being the curious type, I did some research and was shocked to find that picking up a random dollar bill can, in fact, be extremely dangerous... but some experts say you don't have to worry about overdosing when grabbing a dollar.

According to a report from the National Library of Medicine:

...based on our current understanding of the absorption of fentanyl and its analogs, it is very unlikely that small, unintentional skin exposures to tablets or powder would cause significant opioid toxicity, and if toxicity were to occur it would not develop rapidly, allowing time for removal.

With all of that said, many experts advise against having your children be the first ones to pick up a dollar off of the street. That dollar could technically contain traces of other drugs and if you have a small child, that could prove to be problematic.

On the other hand, some people have reported finding needles or even razors in some stranded dollar bills that were tied with a rubber band. So, if you see a folded up bill, you may want to avoid it completely.

If you absolutely need the money, we get it - but maybe think twice before picking up that random dollar bill next time.