LAWRENCE, MA (KRON) — A heartbreaking video shows a woman overdosing inside a Massachusetts Family Dollar store with her two-year-old daughter by her side.
The toddler is safe, but police plan to charge her mother with child endangerment.
The two-year-old girl is seen in the video screaming and tugging at her mother’s limp body.
“It’s very, very disturbing to see someone obviously in the matter of addiction, where it overtakes someone to the point where they’re not able to take care of their child, leaves their child vulnerable,” said Chief James Fitzpatrick with Lawrence Police.
Police believe she overdosed on an oral version of heroin or an opiate-based narcotic like fentanyl. She finally came to after not one but two doses of narcan.
Police say they hope sharing this video will alert people to the horrific consequences of drug use — something not seen by the public every day but ever-present to first responders.
Chief Fitzpatrick of Lawrence Police estimating in 10 percent of drug situations they respond to, children are present.
“They can see firsthand the power of the narcotic and fentanyl, and she’s lucky to be alive,” he said.
The little girl is now in protective custody. Her mother is expected to face charges by the end of the week.CNN Newsource contributed to this report