Alleged daycare misdeed: Secret administration of melatonin to kids
Childcare workers in the U.S. are accused of enhancing their toddlers' sleep by adding melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone, to their food. This practice has landed four ladies from a daycare center in New Hampshire in hot water as they were apprehended by the police. According to reports by The Guardian, police discovered that the owner of the daycare center and three of her employees secretly added melatonin to the food of the children without the parents' knowledge or consent. The ladies are now facing charges for jeopardizing the welfare of the young ones.
Melatonin is a hormone naturally produced by the body that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It also serves as a sleeping aid available over-the-counter in drugstores, often found in sprays, gummies, or tablets. However, excessive intake of this hormone can result in adverse effects such as headaches, nervousness, or stomach issues.
In 2023, authorities in New Hampshire started investigating this daycare center for unfair or harmful practices. Since then, it has been revealed that the staff had illegally mixed melatonin into the food of toddlers. The exact number of children involved and the duration of this practice are still unknown. Moreover, there has been growing concern over the potential long-term effects of melatonin on children, as it is yet to be scientifically studied.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine has cautioned against using melatonin in children and teenagers due to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's insufficient supervision of this sleep aid. Also, in recent years, several cases of melatonin overdose in kids have been reported. Based on data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 7% of emergency room visits from 2012 to 2021 were due to children accidentally consuming melatonin.
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The U.S. incident highlights the importance of parents being informed about their children's medication, as the daycare staff's secret administration of melatonin breached international standards of children's welfare. This incident has sparked discussions in the educational sector about the potential risks of using melatonin as a sleep aid for children in the USA.
Source: www.ntv.de
