Four daycare workers in Manchester, New Hampshire have been accused of putting children in danger by adding melatonin to their food. The unlicensed daycare, operated by Sally Dreckmann and three other employees, was discovered by police following a tip from someone inside the facility. The parents of the children were not aware that their kids were being given melatonin without their consent.
Melatonin is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body and is commonly used as a sleep aid for issues like insomnia and jet lag. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an increase in the number of children taken to the emergency room for ingesting adult doses of melatonin in recent years.
Since melatonin is considered a supplement and not regulated by the FDA, health officials caution against giving it to children due to the possibility of contamination or unknown ingredients. Despite the availability of child doses of melatonin, the daycare workers are facing charges for endangering the children under their care.
