Шестилетний мальчик с аутизмом госпитализирован после обнаружения полицией дома в состоянии наркотического опьянения

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A 6-year-old boy with autism who is nonverbal is recovering after Gwinnett County police say they found him home alone and under the influence of drugs, with methamphetamine inside the house. Heather Lewis, 42, was arrested July 9 and faces charges including cruelty to children and possession of methamphetamine, Gwinnett County police say. Officers weren’t looking for the child at all, according to police. They had come to the home on Fence Road near Auburn to serve a search warrant for a teenager at the home accused of robbery. That’s when they found the boy barely responsive last Thursday afternoon. Medics reported the child had pinpoint eyes and was extremely lethargic, according to an arrest warrant. The warrant states the boy “appeared to be under the influence” of what may have been a depressant. His aunt told police his behavior was not normal, and he was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Meth doesn’t have to be swallowed to poison a child, and doctors say the youngest ones are often exposed just by touching what’s around them. “Meth can also be absorbed through your eyes, through your skin,” said Gaylord Lopez, executive director of the Georgia Poison Center. The danger is not rare. Lopez said the poison center has logged nearly 700 meth exposures since 2024, including close to 25 involving children under 12. Dr. Rebecca Reamy, vice president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said adults often underestimate how easily children reach what’s left out. “We can’t control adults’ choices, but we can certainly protect the children,” Reamy said. Police say it was the second time they found the boy home alone since May. His mother faces charges including cruelty to children. “One of the things we always preach is out of sight and out of reach. You don’t want the child to be able to even find it,” Reamy said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] ©2026 Cox Media Group