EIGHT-YEAR-OLD TREATED AFTER DRUG OVERDOSE

Surrey RCMP Investigating Child's Mother

An eight-year-old boy has been put in the care of the Ministry of
Children and Family Development after he overdosed on an opiate that
may be heroin.

The boy, who lives with his mother in the 1600-block Martin Drive in
White Rock, was rushed to hospital on Monday morning after Surrey
fire and ambulance crews answered a call about an unresponsive child.

"Our preliminary investigation is that he overdosed on an opiate,"
said Surrey RCMP Sgt. Jean Hamm.

"Our major crime section is now trying to determine the circumstances."

Police can't say if the drug was heroin until the toxicology reports
are in, Hamm said.

"We haven't determined at this stage if it is heroin," he said. "We
know it is an opiate he took and we are still trying to determine how
he took it."

He said the child's mother is under investigation.

"There is a female who is under investigation specifically as to how
the substance came to be in his system," said Hamm.

He said she is not known to police.

The boy was released from hospital yesterday and will make a full recovery.

Louise Ellis, 40, lives in the same building as the mother and boy.

She said they have had few problems in the well-kept apartment complex.

"It is a shock to hear an eight-year-old has had a drug overdose," she said.

"Out here we don't see drugs. If it is there, it is very well hidden."