Destaine Carter mugshot. Credit: Image via Portage County Jail
An Akron 1-year-old died Sunday night of an opioid overdose that occured last week, according to the Summit County Medical Examiner’s Office. The infant had previously been in Akron’s Children Hospital and was reported to be in “stable condition” last week by Fox 8 Cleveland.

Last Thursday, Akron police responded to a call made by a 9-year-old concerned about his 1-year-old brother not breathing. The 1-year-old overdosed on opioids but was administered a dose of Narcan on the scene and rushed to Arkon’s Children Hospital where a second dose of the life-saving drug revived him.

According to police, the infant’s mother, Destaine Carter, was at home when they initially arrived but soon went missing. She was later brought to the hospital to see her child and was arrested on unrelated charges to the overdose. Carter was wanted on a felony warrant for theft in Portage County.

Summit County Children Services now has custody of Carter’s other children, Cleveland.com reported.

This incident is one of several to take place this year in a growing epidemic for Ohio as opioid-related deaths continue to climb despite being named the best state at monitoring prescription drugs.

This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2017.