A strange and dangerous trend in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has seen multiple parents charged after their 2-year-olds have overdosed on fentanyl.
Jessica Garcia, a 36-year-old mother, was charged in early June 2023 after her 2-year-old son overdosed on fentanyl and needed CPR to be brought back to life, according to KOAT 7. Investigators found a blue pill and several pieces of foil with black residue, according to a criminal complaint.
Police also discovered through medical records that the child was born exposed to illicit substances. The toddler also reportedly has shown developmental delays and suffers from poor coordination and frequent falls.
Both Garcia and her adult daughter have reportedly failed to show up for multiple drug tests, as well. Garcia was charged with child abuse resulting in great bodily harm.
The same week, a different set of Albuquerque caretakers was jailed after a 2-year-old allegedly overdosed on fentanyl that they got from a nearby bag of drugs, according to KOB 4.
Chanel Gallegos, the child’s mother, reportedly told police she has a history of using opioids. Police allegedly found a “Ziploc bag with a large amount of small round, blue pills,” according to documents. Police also reportedly smelled fentanyl smoke and burnt foil in the home.
The child showed signs consistent with opiate overdose, was administered Narcan, and is expected to recover.
A third Albuquerque mother was charged in late May 2023 when her 2-year-old daughter allegedly died from a fentanyl overdose. The Albuquerque Journal reported that Kreshenna Delaney was charged with one count of child abuse for the death of her daughter Nayisha, and two other counts of child abuse for other children who were in the home.
Delaney reportedly told police she found her daughter unconscious and brought her to the hospital. The woman, who apparently kept nodding out in front of deputies, was told cocaine was found in the young girl’s system. She reportedly asked police “how much” and said that everyone at the “trap house” does drugs, and while she does sell crack, she didn’t give any to her daughter.
Deputies said they found cocaine in Delaney’s system, and crack paraphernalia in her car. The daughter died early in the morning.
The Deputy Chief of Emergency Services, Emily Jaramillo, said at a press conference that it’s “pretty alarming” to authorities “that young, young children are getting into their parents’, or other caregiver’s fentanyl.”
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