Arrests after child 'drug' death

Methadone is used to assist heroin users back to normal lives

Two men have been arrested after a two-year-old boy was believed to have died from an overdose of the heroin substitute methadone.

The boy was taken to a hospital in Birmingham last week but doctors were unable to save him.

Another boy, aged three, is in a stable condition, police said.

A 30-year-old was held on suspicion of neglect and a 33-year-old was suspected of possessing a controlled drug. Both have been bailed pending inquiries.

A post-mortem examination carried out on the boy was inconclusive, West Midlands Police said.

Further tests will be carried out.

Case review

Emergency services were called to an address in south Birmingham on Tuesday morning, where the two-year-old was found seriously ill.

West Midlands Police said three children were taken to hospital as all of them had consumed "a harmful substance".

The two-year-old died on Thursday evening.

Methadone is given to heroin addicts to help wean them off their addiction to the drug.