Pamplico couple charged after child eats methadone

A Pamplico couple has been arrested after the woman’s 2-year-old child ate a dose of methadone, Florence County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Michael Nunn said.

Krystal Lynn Langston, 24, and Stephen Daniel Matthews, 30, of 1251 W. Turner Gate Road, each are charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, Florence County Detention Center booking reports show. Both have been released from the jail in Effingham on $5,000 surety bonds, Nunn said.

The child was rushed April 12 to an area hospital, where it was determined the child had ingested a quantity of methadone, Nunn said.

After a lengthy investigation, Langston was arrested by sheriff’s deputies about noon Thursday and her boyfriend, Matthews, was arrested Friday afternoon, Nunn said.

Methadone is prescribed to treat a dependence on opiate drugs, according to the Web site Drugs.com. It can be abused in a manner similar to other legal or illicit opiates, however.

Respiratory depression is the primary risk associated with taking methadone, according to the site. Abuse of methadone poses a risk of overdose and death, which is increased with concurrent abuse of methadone with alcohol and other substances.

According to the Harm Reduction Journal, accidental poisoning by methadone occurs, particularly as a result of children ingesting a parent’s methadone.

Small amounts can be fatal to children, according to Pediatric Emergency Care.

Accidental or deliberate ingestion by a child may cause respiratory depression that can result in death, according to Drugs.com.

This marks the second case in the Pee Dee this year where residents have been charged after a child in their care ate drugs.

The mother and grandmother of a 4-year-old Darlington girl were arrested March 10 after the child ate cocaine from a bag she found in the suspects’ home, Darlington County Sheriff’s Capt. Andy Locklair said. The child in that case recovered and both suspects are free on bond.