Methadone
A Birmingham mum is accused of killing her toddler son with a fatal dose of methadone Getty

A Birmingham mum will today stand trial at Nottingham Crown Court charged with giving her two-year-old son a lethal overdose of heroin substitute methadone.

Kelly Emery of Gravelly Hill, Erdington, was arrested in February 2014 on suspicion of manslaughter, and charged in September with the offence plus an additional charge of child cruelty.

The charges followed the death of Fenton Hogan, who died in July 2013. A post mortem later revealed the toddler died from methadone poisoning.

Hogan died after he was found collapsed at his home address in Cotswold Close, Frankley, also in Birmingham.

Methadone - the powerful heroin substitute

Methadone is a synthetic opiate manufactured for use as a painkiller and as substitute for heroin. It is prescribed to heroin addicts and has a similar effect to the class A drug.

Opiates are sedative drugs that depress the nervous system and slow down body functions and reduce physical and psychological pain.

A patient who is addicted to heroin will often be prescribed methadone to take instead of heroin and the dose of methadone is gradually reduced over time.

Taking methadone can lead to:

  • Reducing physical and psychological pain.
  • Feelings of warmth, relaxation and detachment.
  • Overdoses that can lead to coma or even death from respiratory failure.

Source: Talk to Frank