Police: Children Given Sleep Aid Tablets At Day Care

MONTROSE, Colo. (CBS4) - Police in Montrose are investigating reports that dozens of children at a day care were given sleep aid tablets.

The children attended the Hug A-Bear Childcare and Learning Center in Montrose.

Police said an employee was issued a summons for giving medication to children without parental consent.

"We had a staff member that reported it directly to me, the incident of that day, at which time I then notified the authorities," an official at the day care said.

Investigators say Dedrie Womack gave 35 children over-the-counter melatonin last week. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid meant to increase drowsiness.

"The individual has been cooperative and she did receive a summons into Montrose County Court for child abuse," an investigator said.

Emergency workers checked out all 35 children. They were okay and were sent home with their parents.

According to the National Sleep Foundation's website: Melatonin is a natural hormone made by your body's pineal (pih-knee-uhl) gland. This is a pea-sized gland located just above the middle of the brain. During the day the pineal is inactive. When the sun goes down and darkness occurs, the pineal is "turned on" by the SCN and begins to actively produce melatonin, which is released into the blood. Usually, this occurs around 9 pm. As a result, melatonin levels in the blood rise sharply and you begin to feel less alert. Sleep becomes more inviting. Melatonin levels in the blood stay elevated for about 12 hours - all through the night - before the light of a new day when they fall back to low daytime levels by about 9 am. Daytime levels of melatonin are barely detectable.