A new effort is underway to protect California’s youngest fentanyl victims. Senator Dave Cortese introduced legislation after two baby deaths last year, both in San Jose. In one, a three-month-old girl was reportedly never removed from her home despite warning signs. Three months later, an 18-month-old died with 15 times the lethal amount of fentanyl in her blood.
Cortese says he wants every county to treat this as a crisis. His bill would create statewide guidelines of when it’s appropriate for kids under five to return living with their parents who have drug cases.