Jeddah Police are investigating a report by a woman who accused her husband of giving her 18-month-old daughter heroin. The woman took the baby to Al-Amal Hospital in Jeddah and told doctors that her daughter had become a heroin addict after her husband had given her doses of the drug in her feeding bottle. The baby girl was immediately transferred to Al-Mosa'idiah Maternity and Children's Hospital, as it specializes in treating children. Al-Mosa'idiah Hospital will work with Al-Amal Hospital to treat the girl if it is proved that she has indeed become addicted to the drug. Medical sources said that the hospital conducted a number of medical tests on the girl with the aim of verifying the mother's claims and to determine if there are any traces of heroin in her blood and whether she had been sexually assaulted or not. These examinations were carried out with follow up by Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Health Affairs in Jeddah, and Dr. Kamal Abu Rukbah, Director of Al-Mosa'idiah Maternity and Children's Hospital. A medical team was formed to follow up the child's case amidst confirmation by the mother that she has a 3-year-old son in the Social Protection Home. For their part, sources in Jeddah Police confirmed that Al-Janoubiah Police Station which is near the mother's residence received a report from her and it is being investigated with the aim of verifying if the girl has become an addict or not. The sources pointed out that such reports are taken seriously until they are proved not to be true. They added that at present the girl is undergoing check-ups and tests which will determine if the accusations are true or false. In the same connection, Dr. Muhammad Bin Abdullah Al-Shawoosh, Vice President of the Saudi Society for Psychiatry, said that this case – if proved true – is rare because heroin is usually used by sniffing or through injections. He said that the baby would have to undergo a comprehensive medical check-up with the aim of determining her vital functions and whether or not she is exhibiting any withdrawal symptoms due to addiction. He added that if it is proved that the child had been receiving doses of heroin through her feeding bottle, there will be serious complications in the digestive system which might be life-threatening. Also, the size of the dose she took should be determined and whether the dose is lethal, as children are more sensitive to chemicals and compounds. Therefore, the girl must undergo meticulous check-ups and tests to determine the complications for her heart, liver, lungs and digestive system, Al-Shawoosh said. He added that there were a number of administrative procedures which must be followed. He said, “A medical team must be formed to deal with her case. It should include a consultant doctor on addiction from Al-Amal Hospital and a consultant pediatrician to follow up the case. The girl should be under intensive medical monitoring while there is also a focus on the criminal aspect of the case.”
