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“We’re still investigating how a nine-month-old got hold of the fentanyl,” Charlestown Police Chief Patrick Connors said. “Criminal charges are definitely pending.”
MEREDITH, NH (AP) — Police in central New Hampshire said Friday they saved the life of a baby who overdosed on fentanyl.
A 9-month-old mouthed the drug at a home Thursday, and the mother called police on the way to the hospital because “the baby wasn’t doing too well,” said Charlestown Police Chief Patrick Connors. Police from the nearby town of Claremont responded in less than a minute and said Sgt. Michael Puksta administered a life-saving dose of Narcan.
“We’re still investigating how a nine-month-old got his hands on fentanyl,” Connors said. “Criminal charges are definitely pending.”
He said the charges were likely against someone who was in the home, although exactly who would be charged and the severity of the charges remained to be determined.
“It’s terrible,” Connors said. “When you hear this — and we know there’s an opioid problem — it’s devastating. I talked to Sgt. Puksta, and he didn’t think he’d have to give Narcan to a 9-month-old.
After receiving Narcan, the child was transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to a hospital in the city of Lebanon, police said.
Police, child protective services and the courts are all working to keep the child safe, Connors said. He said there were two other children in the house at the time, and authorities were also working to keep them safe.
Narcan is a brand name for naloxone, a drug that can reverse an overdose of opioid drugs, including heroin, fentanyl and prescription drugs.