The owner and three employees of a New Hampshire daycare center have been cited on child endangerment charges after investigators say they sprinkled melatonin into children’s meals, Manchester police said.
Manchester nursery owner Sally Dreckman, 52, and her employees Tracy Inney, 51, Caitlin Filardo, 23, and Jessica Foster, 23, were taken into police custody after a lengthy investigation led by Manchester Police’s Youth Unit found they had adulterated children’s food. Manchester Police said on Thursday that they had administered melatonin without the parents’ consent or knowledge.
“All four were charged with 10 counts of endangering the welfare of a child,” police said in a statement.
Authorities said an investigation into the incident began in November 2023 after detectives “received a report of dangerous behavior at an in-home childcare center” in west Manchester. .
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, but police have not yet announced a specific course of action.
What is melatonin?
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), melatonin is a “hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness,” which helps you sleep.
“Melatonin supplements may be helpful for certain conditions, including jet lag, delayed sleep-onset and wake-up phases, some sleep disorders in children, and anxiety before and after surgery,” NCCIH says.
Although short-term use of melatonin supplements is considered safe for most people, the NCCIH states that “the use of over-the-counter melatonin may put children and teens at risk and should not be administered to children.” We encourage parents to consult a health care provider before in case of accidental or intentional overdose. ” However, there is limited information regarding the long-term effects of melatonin use in children, so parents are advised to exercise caution.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her at X @saman_shafiq7.
