16-Month-Old Chews On Heroin Baggies As Child's Mother Overdosed, Upper Darby Police Say
Follow CBSPHILLY Facebook | Twitter
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A 16-month-old boy in Upper Darby is recovering after police say the child chewed on a heroin baggie. Police say the child's mother also overdosed.
The incident happened around 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Police say the father came home and found his girlfriend, the child's mother, passed out and the 16-month-old was unconscious.
He took the baby to Delaware County Memorial Hospital, where doctors had to administer Narcan. The baby was then transferred to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and is in guarded condition.
Police believe the child retrieved the discarded heroin baggies from a trash can and chewed on them.
"In my opinion, when children get into mom and dad or guardian's habits, and those habits are drug addiction, then why should the poor child suffer? They are putting that baby in harm's way, they are putting that baby at great human danger and they deserve to be punished the way the law can punish them," said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.
The scourge of heroin almost claimed another life. 16 month old child ingests drugs left behind by household member. Lucky to be alive after being treated at hospital. More to follow.
— Upper Darby Police (@UDPolice) February 5, 2019
Police say the child's mother is alive after overdosing. There is word on her condition. Police say the woman has to surrender to authorities by 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
JUST IN — The mother of a 16 mo. old boy, who police say chewed on discarded bags of heroin or fentanyl, has to surrender to @UDPolice by 8am. The baby was administered Narcan, and is at CHOP in guarded condition @CBSPhilly
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) February 5, 2019
A search warrant apparently turned up a dozen empty bags of heroin.
Charges are pending following the incident.