Tacoma police have arrested the mother of an 18-month-old boy after the child required four doses of Narcan to survive an accidental fentanyl overdose, a case highlighting the growing toll of opioid abuse on families in Washington.
The boy, Blake, has been sleeping more than usual since the incident, his aunt, Tara Harris, said. Harris has cared for him since birth, when he was born dependent on fentanyl and had to undergo five to six detox treatments before leaving the hospital. She said the situation never should have happened and blames Child Protective Services (CPS) and the state legislature for failing to protect vulnerable children.
Blake and his 5-year-old sister had been returned to their mother, Harris’s sister Amanda Thiel, three months ago to live in a rehabilitation home. Over the weekend, Harris received a call from police saying Blake had overdosed on fentanyl but was revived after several doses of the opioid-reversal drug. “You work so hard to make sure these kids have good lives,” Harris said, “and then they’re put right back into situations they can’t control.”
Security footage from that day reportedly shows Thiel holding Blake as his head dropped backward and she tried to rouse him. According to police reports, Blake’s sister told officers he had been chewing on something she thought was “lip gloss” before his face turned red and his eyes began to droop. In the video, Thiel can be heard saying she needed Narcan.
Homeowners at the location stated that Thiel was not supposed to be at their property, due to her drug use. Once she requested Narcan, they called 911, though the footage also captured her urging them not to alert police. Harris later said she fears what could have happened had Narcan not been available or someone competent to administer it.
The Tacoma City Attorney’s Office charged Thiel on Monday with reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. Harris believes the penalty is too light, pointing out that both Blake and his sister have previously tested positive for fentanyl and required Narcan to survive. Despite the latest incident, she says CPS still plans to reunite the children with their mother. “What if he dies next time?” she asked. “I don’t think I could survive that.”
Harris blames part of the problem on the state’s 2021 “Keeping Families Together Act,” which makes it more difficult to remove children from parents, even if drug use is involved. State data shows the number of child deaths and near-deaths in Washington nearly tripled in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, with many linked to opioid overdoses.
She vowed to push for change. “I’m going to fight for him and for my niece,” Harris said, “and make sure we change laws so no other family has to go through this.”
Blake is now recovering, though doctors have warned Harris that she might need to administer Narcan again as he heals from the overdose.
