Narcan Revives Michigan Baby, 11 Months; Parents Charged

GRAND TRAVERSE, MI — Authorities in a northern Michigan county had to use an opioid-reversal drug to revive an 11-month-old girl whose parents now face child abuse charges, according to multiple reports. The infant has recovered from the June 7 incident and was placed in the care of relatives by child-welfare workers.

The parents, Devin and Brianna Devereaux, were arrested at a house in Gladwin on Saturday, authorities said. Each faces a charge of third-degree child abuse, and Devin Devereaux is charged as a habitual offender, the Grand Traverse County Prosecutor’s Office said. (For more local news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Detroit Patch, click here to find your local Michigan Patch. Also, like us on Facebook, and if you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

The parents saw their baby chewing a pill on June 7 and called 911, the Traverse County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. When deputies arrived at their home on Emily Lane in East Bay Township, they administered the opioid-reversal drug Narcan.

After initial treatment at a Traverse City hospital, the child was airlifted to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. The baby is OK, according to reports.

Toxicology tests showed the child had ingested cocaine and opioids, WPBN/WGTU reported.

Authorities don’t have any reason to believe the parents purposely gave the infant the drugs, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Capt. Randy Fewless told WWTV/WFOX, but he said “it’s a valuable lesson” for parents to make sure that all prescription drugs are secured.

Another child at the Devereaux home was removed by Child Protective Services and placed in the care of relatives, according to reports.

Naloxone, more commonly known by the brand name Narcan, temporarily blocks the effect of heroin, OxyContin and other painkillers. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images News/Getty Images)