One-Year-Old Hospitalized After Ingesting Hashish in Nola; Father Charged
Nola, January 31, 2026 – Carabinieri were urgently dispatched to a local hospital just before midnight on January 30, 2026, following a report from medical staff. A one-year-old girl had been brought to the emergency room after ingesting a small quantity of hashish.
Fortunately, the child’s condition never gave cause for life-threatening concern, but doctors ordered her admission for routine monitoring and checks.
Investigation Reveals Father’s Responsibility
Rapid investigations by the Carabinieri revealed the responsibility of the father, a 26-year-old resident of Brusciano, a town bordering Nola. The father was already known to law enforcement due to prior criminal records.
The man has been charged with possession for the purpose of dealing and for the negligent consequences on his minor daughter’s safety. Concurrently, local social services have been activated and are evaluating the family situation to ensure the child’s protection.
A Growing Concern: Accidental Cannabis Intoxication in Children
Unfortunately, the incident in Nola is not an isolated case. In recent years, the province of Naples and the Vesuvius hinterland have seen a worrying sequence of similar incidents. These cases almost always involve hashish left unattended at home or accessible to young children, who often mistake it for chocolate or sweets.
In recent months alone, several similar interventions have been recorded:
- In January 2025, a one-year-old child ended up at Santobono Hospital after ingesting hashish found in the kitchen at his grandparents’ house in Boscoreale.
- Similar incidents have occurred in Naples and other centers in the area, with children under two years old intoxicated by THC.
In some cases, the severity has been greater, leading to admissions to pediatric intensive care. Nationally, the phenomenon is constantly growing: pediatric emergency rooms are reporting an increase in accidental cannabis intoxication in children under 5-6 years old, often correlated with the greater domestic availability of the substance.
The Dangers of Unattended Drugs for Children
The recurring dynamic is almost always the same: the drug – hashish or inflorescences – is kept in accessible places (ashtrays, bedside tables, low drawers). Children, in the exploratory phase typical of that age, ingest it, mistaking it for food.
The effects on the central nervous system of young children are particularly intense, including profound lethargy, vomiting, tachycardia, hypotension, and in severe cases, convulsive seizures and respiratory depression.
The Carabinieri of Nola are currently verifying whether the father possessed larger quantities of the drug and if there have been other previous episodes of neglect.
Prosecutor’s Office Informed
The Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Juvenile Court of Naples has been informed to assess any protective measures for the child.
These events dramatically highlight the issue of parental responsibility in managing illicit substances in the presence of young children: even a “modest quantity” can turn into a deadly danger for a one-year-old child.
The investigation is ongoing, and further details may emerge as authorities continue their work to ensure the child’s safety and address the legal ramifications for the father.
