by Raleigh, NC – Two 22-month-old twin toddlers were revived using Narcan after being exposed to the dangerous opioid fentanyl in their family apartment, leading to the arrest of their mother and her boyfriend on serious child abuse charges.
The incident, occurring on Lake Hills Drive, has renewed concerns about the growing impact of fentanyl on young children and the urgent need for stricter legal protections.
Critical Response and Rescue
Raleigh police responded to a call of an unresponsive child after 8 p.m. on a Monday. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) were already on the scene administering care when the second twin also became unresponsive shortly after. Both toddlers were given doses of Narcan, a medication designed to reverse opioid overdoses, and were hospitalized. Thankfully, their condition is stable and they are expected to survive.
- Mother Vinus Humphreys, 25, and boyfriend Tyrone Bannerman, 28, arrested on two counts each of felony child abuse.
- Additional charges against Bannerman include trafficking opium/heroin, manufacturing a Schedule II controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
- Authorities found drugs, drug paraphernalia, and a firearm inside the home.
Rising Threat of Fentanyl Exposure Among Young Children
The episode has alarmed advocates such as Barb Walsh, executive director of the Fentanyl Victims Network of North Carolina, who highlighted the tragic rise in fentanyl-related deaths in children under 5 years old. Data from the North Carolina Office of the Medical Examiner shows:
- 29 children younger than 5 died from fentanyl poisoning between 2017 and 2022.
- 72% of these deaths occurred in the past two years, 2021 and 2022.
“It breaks my heart,” Walsh said. “I hate to use the word overdosing with a two-year-old because they didn’t know what they were taking.”
Walsh’s personal loss—her 24-year-old daughter died in 2021 from unintentional fentanyl exposure—fuels her passion for advocacy and change.
Legal Changes on the Horizon
This year, Governor Josh Stein signed a new law that strengthens criminal offenses for exposing children to controlled substances. Walsh emphasized the law’s importance:
“The new law will be a felony even if they ingest it and are okay. That will save someone else’s life.”
Unfortunately, because this law will take effect on December 1, 2025, four weeks after this incident, Humphreys and Bannerman are charged under the existing child abuse statutes.
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Looking Ahead: Accountability and Prevention
Walsh advocates for stronger accountability for adults who endanger children with harmful substances, underscoring the consequence of such actions. She states:
“People who endanger a child with a harmful substance like fentanyl should be held accountable for their actions. It will lead to lives being saved. That’s the goal. We want lives saved.”
Humphreys and Bannerman are currently held without bond and are expected to appear in Wake County court soon.
For detailed coverage of this developing story, visit WRAL News.
Key Takeaways:
- Narcan can be lifesaving in opioid overdose emergencies, even in very young children.
- Fentanyl exposure among children is a growing public health crisis.
- Legal reforms are underway to offer stronger protection against child exposure to controlled substances.
What do you think about this urgent issue of child fentanyl exposure and the new legal measures? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
