Parents charged after 9-month-old boy exposed to suspected fentanyl in Winnipeg home

The parents of a nine-month-old boy face child-neglect and drug charges after the infant became critically ill upon coming into contact with what police suspect wasfentanylpowder inside a home in Winnipeg's North End last week.

Parents charged after 9-month-old boy exposed to suspected fentanyl in Winnipeg home

8 years ago

Duration 1:40

A nine-month-old boy was taken to hospital in critical condition from his home on Aikins Street, after he came into contact with a substance police believe was fentanyl.A nine-month-old boy was taken to hospital in critical condition from his home on Aikins Street, after he came into contact with a substance police believe was fentanyl. (CBC)1 shareFacebookTwitterRedditGoogleShareEmailRelated StoriesInfant found in critical condition in home with suspected fentanyl residueWhy harm reduction could help win the fight against fentanyl'They don't want to die': Families who lost loved ones to opiates say government must do moreAre your street drugs laced with fentanyl? A $5 test could tell youNearly 25% of Manitoba paramedics can't dispense life-saving drug naloxoneDistribution of fentanyl antidote 'not adequate' in Manitoba, health minister saysCarfentanil has been in Winnipeg for months, recovering addict says'There's going to be many mothers kneeling at coffins,' warns mom of recovering drug addict'I don't want to lose any more friends,' woman says after man found dead in carThe parents of a nine-month-old boy face child-neglect and drug charges after the infant became critically ill upon coming into contact with what police suspect was fentanyl powder inside a home in Winnipeg's North End last week.

More than 10 ounces of powder, or just under 300 grams, was seized by police after the boy was found experiencing "respiratory distress" by emergency responders at a houseon Aikins Street around 5:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 18.

• Infant found in critical condition in home
• Child neglect, drug-related charges possible

The boy was taken to hospital in critical condition, but he has since been upgraded to stable condition and the prognosis is positive, saypolice, who believe the infant may have become exposed to the powerful opioid but are still trying to determine how.

"Obviously a nine-month-old child is not walking around, typically, and would [not] necessarily have access to something like this or would ever have access to something like this," police spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen said Tuesday.

"Our investigation has taken us in a direction that the child may have had inadvertent contact with what we believe to be fentanyl, and this might be from hand-to-hand contact or clothing to the child or other items. We could talk about, you know, a bottle, a toy there could have been some contamination on other items, a person within the residence, and now the child being exposed in some way."

Winnipeg police on dangers of fentanyl on young children

8 years ago

Duration 2:12

Winnipeg police Const. Jason Michalyshen talks about the dangers of fentanyl not only to adults but also to young children, after an infant was somehow exposed to a substance that police suspect is the powerful opioid.

A 33-year-old man and 32-year-old woman, described by police as the biological parents, were arrested on Monday and charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life, causing bodily harm by criminal negligence and possessing fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking. Theyare in custody.

Michalyshen said police are not aware of any other children in the home at the time of the incident.

"As a police service, I don't know what's more concerning when a child is put at risk like this, but I can tell you that these individuals are being held accountable for their actions," he said.

Antidote had 'immediate positive effect'

Michalyshen said someone within the Aikins Street home had called for help, but when emergency crewsarrived, "information was not forthcoming" about what the boy may have been exposed to.

Emergency personnel contacted hospital staff when they spotted a "white powdered substance" in the home that they suspected may have beenfentanyl, he said.

The infant was then givennaloxonean antidote drug also known by its brand name,Narcan, whichis known to reverse the effects of an opiate overdose and that produced an "immediate positive effect," saidMichalyshen.

"Officers were able to quickly identify the potential hazard, notify medical staff, and it was at that point the appropriate medical measures were provided and, quite quickly, the child's condition improved," he said.

"I'm talking aboutnaloxone, I'm talking aboutNarcan, where it was administered and very quickly the child's condition improved."

• Naloxonedistribution 'not adequate' in Manitoba, health minister says
• Nearly 25% of Manitoba paramedics can't dispense life-saving drug naloxone
• Naloxone nasal spray too pricey for those who need it, frontline workers say

It's not clear if the boy remains in hospital as of Tuesday.Michalyshenwould only say the child is "safe and in care."

Police seized up to half an ounceof loose powder and10 ounces of baggedpowder from the home, along with some cutting agent and a contaminated bowl andspoon, Michalyshen said.

Investigators will need laboratory test results before they can conclusively say the powderwasfentanyl, he said.

However,police did not take any chances in seizing the powder and accessories. Members of the clandestine lab team, who arespecially trained to work in potentially hazardous environments, weresent to the home as a safety measure due to the toxicity of fentanyl.