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A teacher at a Monroe County Georgia daycare facility was arrested this week for allegedly drugging kids to make them sleep. Authorities have charged the daycare employee with three counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct.
Even over the counter medications can pose a severe health risk for young children and those with other health conditions. This includes the risk of a potentially lethal drug overdose.
Monroe County deputies were tipped off by another employee of the Forsyth Methodist Church daycare that a coworker was allegedly giving children Benadryl “to make them sleepy for their nap time.”
The ages of the children were approximately 2 1/2 years old according to reports. Children under the age of 6 should not take Benadryl except under the supervision of a doctor.
Jail records indicate that the teacher turned herself in on March 10 and has been detained without bound. The surrender came a day after authorities were alerted to the incident following a series of Facebook posts about the incident. The tip was received five days after the incident is alleged to have occurred.
The Sheriff’s Office wrote in a press release, “After reviewing the video footage and speaking with witnesses it was found that (the teacher) had been giving the medication to the children.”
The daycare is located about 60 miles southeast of Atlanta. Sources have reached out to the church but no comment has been provided.
The case remains under investigation and more charges may be filed against the teacher. Additional suspects may also be charged pending the results of the investigation.
The daycare incident is only one of a series of recent events in which minors were exposed to medications and other drugs with potentially devastating consequences. A 14 year old middle school student in Arizona was recently charged in the drug related death of his classmate.
These events show us how important it is for communities to have access to education, prevention and intervention resources. We must do our part to protect the next generation so another life isn’t lost to substance misuse.
