Last week the Star Tribune published an article highlighting the devastating effects of children who ingest fentanyl and other drugs.
As the number of people – including parents – battling substance abuse continues to rise, so has the number of infants, toddlers and youth who have been poisoned or killed by the drug in recent years.
In 2022, there were nearly 3,000 calls to Minnesota poison centers about children who were exposed to fentanyl and Delta-8 THC alone. That’s around 7-8 calls per day.
Some children suffer major side effects, but a few have even been killed.
In December, a one-year-old girl, Mi’Vida Vorlicky, ingested her mother’s fentanyl pills and died. Her mother had been reportedly using fentanyl for some time – even while in labor with her at the hospital.
In May a two-year-old girl died of suspected fentanyl poisoning at a Minneapolis shelter. Officers found another child in the apartment as well – along with drugs scattered across the home.
Few people disagree that parental drug use puts children at higher risk for abuse and maltreatment. However, there has been a shift toward keeping children in the home while providing parents with the services and treatment they need. Sometimes this approach works, and sometimes it doesn’t.
Family-centered recovery allows parents to live with their children while they receive treatment, but there is a major shortage of these types of facilities in Minnesota. This and other solutions must be carefully considered.
Every situation is unique, however, the best interests of the child should be prioritized when a parent is incapable of keeping a child safe.