Georgia health experts say young children can encounter dangerous substances without intentionally swallowing them.
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — The hospitalization of a nonverbal 6-year-old boy found barely responsive in a home containing methamphetamine is renewing concern about how easily young children can be exposed to illegal drugs left within reach.
Gwinnett County police said officers found the boy home alone July 9 while serving an unrelated search warrant at a residence on Fence Road near Auburn. Medics reported that he was extremely lethargic and had pinpoint pupils. He was taken to a hospital for evaluation and is recovering.
An arrest warrant said the child “appeared to be under the influence” of what may have been a depressant. Police said methamphetamine was found in the home, but authorities did not release test results or explain how the boy may have encountered the substance.
Gaylord Lopez, executive director of the Georgia Poison Center, said exposure does not always require a child to knowingly swallow a drug. Methamphetamine can also enter the body through contact with the eyes or skin, he said.
Lopez said the poison center has recorded nearly 700 methamphetamine exposures since 2024. Close to 25 of those cases involved children younger than 12, he said. The figures include reported exposures across Georgia and were not limited to the Gwinnett County case.
Dr. Rebecca Reamy, vice president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said adults can underestimate how easily children reach substances left in accessible areas. That risk may be greater for young children who cannot recognize a dangerous substance or communicate what they touched.
“We can’t control adults’ choices, but we can certainly protect the children,” Reamy said. She said pediatric safety guidance stresses keeping dangerous materials out of sight and beyond a child’s reach.
Police arrested the boy’s mother, 42-year-old Heather Lewis, on charges that include cruelty to children and possession of methamphetamine. Investigators said the July discovery was the second time since May that officers had found the child home alone. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.
Officials had not disclosed the child’s test results, the source of his symptoms or details about his continuing care. Police also had not released a complete list of charges or announced the next court proceeding in the case.
Author note: Last updated July 16, 2026.