Woman faces charges in baby's overdose

YOUNGSTOWN -- A 44-year-old South Side woman has been accused of child endangering after an 18-month-old under her care overdosed on the prescription painkiller OxyContin, city police say.
The woman was arrested Saturday night when police were called to a fight at her home on the 2700 block of Julian Street.
There, police say, officers encountered the baby's 22-year-old father and 18-year-old mother. Also at the scene was the suspect's son, 15.
The drug: The suspect was arguing with the baby's paternal grandmother about the alleged overdose. The grandmother told police that the suspect was flushing pills down the toilet and that other drugs were in the apartment.
The baby's father found pills in the basement of the home and suspected OxyContin in the living room. Officers found loose pills in the woman's purse and on her kitchen table.
The suspect told police she did not have a prescription for the drugs but bought them on the street, police reports show. She said she takes them for severe pain.
Police reports show the child had overdosed on OxyContin on Friday. Police said information about the case Friday and the child's condition was unavailable late Saturday.
Besides the charge of child endangering, a first-degree misdemeanor, the woman faces a fifth-degree felony charge of drug abuse.