In an attempt to combat the alarming rise in fentanyl-related deaths among infants and toddlers, state Sen. Dave Cortese has introduced legislation to equip counties with better tools to protect California's youngest victims of opioid overdose.
Inspired by ongoing reports from the Bay Area News Group, Cortese's bill aims to address the tragic deaths of three Bay Area infants and toddlers, including 3-month-old baby Phoenix Castro from San Jose. Despite warnings from social workers, Phoenix was sent home with her drug-using father last year.
Cortese is urging the state's Department of Public Health to provide counties with guidance, data, and informational materials on how to handle fentanyl exposure among young Californians. While he hasn't detailed specific proposals, Cortese suggests delaying the reunification of children under 5 with parents struggling with substance abuse, a decision he believes should be made by health experts.
Senate Bill 908, Cortese's legislation, is part of a series of bills introduced this session to address the lethal drug that claimed the lives of over 340 children under 5 nationwide from 1999 to 2021. The tragic death of baby Phoenix last May led to calls for reform within Santa Clara County's Department of Children and Family Services and the prosecution of her father, David Castro, on felony child endangerment charges.
Recent statistics from the Arizona Department of Health highlight the escalating dangers of fentanyl, underscoring the need for action. In California, tragedies like the deaths of 1-year-old Kristofer Ferreyra and baby Winter Rayo, who ingested lethal doses of fentanyl, have shocked communities.
Steve Baron, a member of the Santa Clara County Child Abuse Prevention Council, supports increased state involvement in preventing fentanyl-related deaths among young children. He emphasizes the importance of the state health department providing essential information, such as instructions for administering the overdose-reversing medication Narcan to young children.
However, some experts have raised concerns about Cortese's bill, suggesting it may not effectively address the root causes of fentanyl deaths among infants and toddlers. Dr. Jeoffry Gordon, a family physician, believes the issue lies in county policies and practices, not state guidance. He argues that legislation like this only offers a temporary fix.
Assistant Professor Chelsea Shover from UCLA warns against proposals that automatically delay reunification of children under 5 with parents struggling with substance abuse, highlighting the need for careful consideration in addressing this complex issue.
Login