“Tragic Choices: Mother Receives 14-Year Sentence After Tragic Night of Co-Sleeping with Intoxicated Baby”
Image credits: Google Maps
The Department of Child Services (DCS), had previously investigated the mother for testing positive for several drugs, including Xanax, marijuana, and cocaine, which led them to forbid her from sharing a bed with her infant.
Her system had an above-prescription dosage of Hydrocodone, a highly addictive opioid painkiller that, according to results from the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, had an estimated 6.1 million people contract an opioid disorder during that year.
Investigators also found multiple bottles of other prescription drugs such as Gabapentin, an anticonvulsant, and Diazepam, a sedative, during their search.
Baby Celina was born with opioid withdrawal symptoms due to her motherâs long-history of substance abuse, which didnât stop even after she was born
Image credits: Bruno Guerrero / Unsplash (Not the actual photo)
Cavanaughâs history with addiction affected her child even before she was born, as her drug usage was constant throughout her pregnancy. This led Celina to come into this world already experiencing neonatal drug withdrawal, which forced her to spend time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
While the autopsy was unable to determine the exact cause of death, doctors concluded that her motherâs continued inability to follow her ban on co-sleeping was the main contributing factor.
Image credits: Freepik (Not the actual photo)
âIt was a needless death,â stated Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman emphasizing the preventable nature of the tragedy, and stressing the importance of following what he called the âABC of safe sleepââbabies should sleep Alone, on their Backs, and in a safe Crib.
