West Palm Beach Woman Charged After Toddler Overdoses On Drugs

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) - A West Palm Beach woman allowed a toddler in her care to overdose on cocaine and possibly fentanyl, authorities said.

Nicole Ciufi, 33, was arrested early Monday and charged with child neglect, the Palm Beach Post reported.

Ciufi told police she had been alone with the 13-month-old child Sunday evening at her West Palm Beach apartment. Her relationship to the child was redacted from a report.

At some point, the toddler appeared to be struggling to breathe, officials said. Ciufi called for an ambulance.

Hospital staff used Narcan, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, to revive the toddler, police said. A doctor told police that tests showed cocaine in the child's system. The doctor also suspected fentanyl, but test results for the potent pain killer weren't immediately available. The child's condition wasn't reported.

Ciufi told investigators she didn't know how drugs would have ended up in the child's system. She said she didn't think she'd test positive for drugs in her system, but records didn't indicate whether she was tested.

Ciufi was released from jail on $1,000 bond. Jail records didn't list an attorney.