Day Care Workers Accused of Drugging Kids With Sleep Aids
Categories: Safety, In The News, Weird But True, Alcohol & Drugs, Childcare
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Police confirmed they are investigating allegations that workers at the Covenant Apostolic Church daycare gave children a dietary supplement to help them sleep. Credit: Glenn Hartong, The Enquirer / AP
Some parents in Ohio are accusing workers at a church day care center of spiking candy with over-the-counter sleep aids to tranquilize kids.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that investigators from the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office and Springfield Township Police Department are investigating the day care center at the Covenant Apostolic Church.
Police Chief David Heimpold sent letters Monday to parents of the 37 children who attend the center in Springfield Township, which is about 10 miles north of Cincinnati.
According to the Enquirer, workers allegedly gave children medication containing the common sleep aid melatonin to quiet them down during naptime. Although the drug is often found in over-the-counter sleep aids, it is generally not recommended for children younger than 12.
In his letter, Heimpold tells parents that police do not definitively know which staff members were involved. "However, we are providing this information to you at this time so that you can take whatever actions you deem necessary to protect your child or children in the event that they were given melatonin on one or more occasions," the letter goes on.
The paper also reports that Heimpold urges parents to contact their family physicians or the Poison Control Center to learn basic information about the drug. The chief tells the newspaper that church officials have been cooperating with the investigation.
Parents Joseph and Andrea Coleman filed a class-action lawsuit against the church Tuesday. According to Hamilton County court records available online, the couple is represented by Cincinnati lawyers Colleen Hegge, Alan Statman and Kelly Lundrigan.
Meanwhile, the day care center will remain open, the Rev. Shelly Hendricks tells the Enquirer. He says he learned about the situation Sunday, and the two staff members believed to be responsible were fired Monday. He adds he's not sure sure how long the employees worked there. He also tells the paper that changes were made to the center's procedures but wouldn't go into detail.
"To my knowledge this is a sleep-aid supplement that can be purchased at any local stores, but this should not have occurred," he tells the Enquirer. "We have fully cooperated with police. Our program remains open and operational and the police are satisfied that our daycare has been run safely."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
LInda 12-16-2009 @ 2:16PM
These people need to be PROSEQUETED & SUED every dam# one of them! They could have killed these children. Why aren't they arrested now Mr Police Chief & MAYOR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
Kelly 12-16-2009 @ 3:12PM
Melatonin is a naturally produced hormone released by our own bodies to regulate sleep cycles in accordance with the presence or absence of natural light. It has no toxic implications whatsoever as an "OD" cannot occur. The body simply flushes out the excess hormone that isn't processed. It is not a "drug." Melatonin has no side effects beyond drowsiness and is linked to improved memory function and learning ability, it is powerful antioxidant, and has proven to alleviate conditions such as depression.
mike hylton 12-16-2009 @ 5:58PM
and why dont they arrest you for going berzerko, you must be nuts right? they werent arrested because what they did wasnt against the law /not proven yet/ was just extremely stupid action on their parts
Thomas 12-16-2009 @ 9:03PM
kelly
you are ignorant just like those and should be arrested for making that comment and if not that for at least put in a hospital for being mental retarted.I sure hope you dont have children and for your comment about it not being a drug its a hormone.Its right it is a hormone but take too much of it and see what happens I wish you would be the guinea pig and for you saying no side effects here they are look it up on webmd
Sleepiness.
Changes in blood vessels that may affect blood flow.
Lower body temperature.
Stomach problems.
Headache.
Morning grogginess.
Vivid dreams.
and for you mike hylton thinking it isnt a crime to give children medication without parents permission and especially meds not recommended for children under 12 you are wrong and you are an idiot too and i hope you dont have children either
kathyftrannys 12-16-2009 @ 9:45PM
Killed...do you even know what you are talking about? Sounds like you don't know squat. I think they did the children a favor. Probably not getting enough rest at home...The bags kids walk around with these days... pathetic/embarrasing
PinkThenRed 12-16-2009 @ 11:54PM
I don't care if this supplement is considered toxic or not. They shouldn't have given these children anything without parental consent!
I remember in grade school, we had to have permission to use a mouthwash for health class.
ccrider 12-16-2009 @ 7:09PM
By the grace of GOD I hope no children where hurt...is there no where left where kids can kick up some dirt and scream and have fun.....if they are not sure of who did it...all should be removed until they do know....
Reply
just me 12-16-2009 @ 2:47PM
News flash! These people are not your kids loving aunts, grandmas or relatives. They are overworked, underpaid EMPLOYEES. These are business and your children are just products to most. You would be shocked if you knew what went on in a majority of these places (home and instituional). Daycare should be a last resort, not a lifestyle choice. Sorry if this is harsh, but I have seen to much to be PC.
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Carla 12-16-2009 @ 4:59PM
You are so right. I am blessed to be able to stay home with my kids, and would be scared to pieces if I was forced to put mine in daycare. I just don't trust other people... (I mean, yeah, if I have a date night, my mom or another relative, but that's a different animal than a stranger...)
Nancy 12-16-2009 @ 7:46PM
That's why my husband and I choose to live more modestly. I'm a stay at home mom so that my kids don't have to be raised by people who really don't want to take care of them anyway.
frankling 12-16-2009 @ 9:32PM
I don't know why anyone is surprised by stuff like this. In a nation that is ruled exclusively by capitalism, people will do anything to make a buck, and by the easiest means possible. A daycare here in Texas was warehousing toddlers in garden sheds in the heat of summer. They wouldn't let the parents into the areas that they were supposedly using, and the parents didn't object, because the operators were "good christian church members". Truth be told, their prices were probably lower than the competition so the parents abdicated their responsibility to their kids to capitalism.
Leevee 12-17-2009 @ 12:00AM
Oh yes. One daycare in the country does this, so obviously all daycare workers are eeeeevil. Logical.
Jim 12-16-2009 @ 2:46PM
I am no Pharmacology major, but from what little research I did, melatonin is not even remotely fatal. It is however a drug and nobody should be drugging kids without their parents knowledge.
Ironically, these workers spiked the water so the kids would fall asleep faster and longer, yet one of the potential side effects is kids wake up with really bad attitudes.
With all these improper interactions between authorities and children, it might be wise to make some examples of them, so others might think twice before cutting off hair or putting kids to sleep with drugs. You see, I doubt whoever did this even thought of the legality of it or the consequences of getting caught. Had they perhaps wondered how much time they might get in prison, they very well could have not done it!
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roblbaker4 12-16-2009 @ 2:58PM
Well it probably depends on how much they are given. Benedryl is not normally fatal either, but a child in my town was given Benedryl at his daycare, to make him sleepy, and he overdosed & died. The lady who owned the daycare is in prison (for a short time only). Just goes to show you, you can't trust ANYONE with your children!
gwms 12-16-2009 @ 3:01PM
These people are crazy and shouldn't be allowed to work with children ever again. They could've killed these kids from overdose. Not to mention the effect they could have by taking this medication everyday single day.
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Chris 12-16-2009 @ 3:22PM
I live in Ohio and I am a child care center director. I just looked up the compliance reports for this center and found that this center is NOT in any way-shape-or form a "good, safe center" as stated in that article. This center has had 2 parent complaints within the last 6 months, out of compliances on medication issues, safety issues, supervision issues, background checks, education checks and medical checks on it's staff members, as well as many other issues. If you have a child in this facility, you need to remove them at once. This center is not well run at all, as many of the issues are that of the director of the center. Stories like this give people a bad taste in their mouth for child care centers. I will agree that there are some really bad centers out there, just go with your gut feeling when touring a center and make sure that you do occasional unannounced visits to your childs center when ever you have the chance. If a center has nothing to hide they will NEVER have a problem with this.
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mutsymud 12-16-2009 @ 4:02PM
Why was this center operational with all the violations? I had my daughter in day care for about two weeks, and then went to part time work so she wouldn't have to be exposed to the creepy kids and staff - and this day care was highly recommended. I guess I am one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to put her child in day care. Children should be raised by their parents, not by people who are in it for the money. I don't care how good the facility is, there is no substitute for mom and dad.
smrt1 12-17-2009 @ 12:02AM
To mutsymud:
As a child care worker, I can tell you that the idea of us being in it 'for the money' is laughable at best. Child care workers are the lowest paid profession that doesn't receive tips. The current rate at my workplace (which is highly regarded/rated/etc) for someone who's worked there two years? About a quarter above minimum wage.
Phil 12-16-2009 @ 3:51PM
Bad judgement? Yes.
Should they do prison time? Hell no.
They gave them a deluded dose of a safe sleep aid in their water. Big friggin deal.
Reply
PNut19 12-16-2009 @ 4:21PM
Oh my gosh! Do you have children??? "Safe" is a relative term. . .safe compared to what, valium?? I can't beleive for one second that if I asked a hundred people who actually have children whether or not they cared if someone secretly gave their child ANY "medicine" or other drug, that even ONE would say "Big friggin deal." Keep in mind these are children who are less than 5 years old. . .melatonin is not recommended for anyone under the age of 12. There's a reason warnings are put on drugs.