Exposing a child to a controlled substance.
G.S. 14-318.7
in effect§ 14-318.7. Exposing a child to a controlled substance.
(a) Definitions. - The following definitions apply in this section:
(1) Child. - Any person who is less than 16 years of age.
(2) Controlled substance. - A controlled substance, controlled substance analogue, drug, marijuana, narcotic drug, opiate, opioid, opium poppy, poppy straw, or targeted controlled substance, all as defined in G.S. 90-87.
(3) Ingest. - Any means used to take into the body, to eat or drink, or otherwise consume or absorb into the body in any way.
(b) A person who knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life causes or permits a child to be exposed to a controlled substance is guilty of a Class H felony.
(c) A person who knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life causes or permits a child to be exposed to a controlled substance and, as a result, the child ingests the controlled substance is guilty of a Class E felony.
(d) A person who knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life causes or permits a child to be exposed to a controlled substance and, as a result, the child ingests the controlled substance, resulting in serious physical injury as defined in G.S. 14-318.4, is guilty of a Class D felony.
(e) A person who knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life causes or permits a child to be exposed to a controlled substance and, as a result, the child ingests the controlled substance, resulting in serious bodily injury as defined in G.S. 14-318.4, is guilty of a Class C felony.
(f) A person who knowingly, intentionally, or with reckless disregard for human life causes or permits a child to be exposed to a controlled substance and, as a result, the child ingests the controlled substance, and the ingestion is the proximate cause of death, is guilty of a Class B1 felony.
(g) The punishments set forth in subsections (b) through (f) of this section apply unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater punishment.
(h) This section does not apply to a person that intentionally gives a child a controlled substance that has been prescribed for the child by a licensed medical professional when given to the child in the prescribed amount and manner. (2025-70, s. 1(a).)
Source: North Carolina General Assembly (ncleg.gov)URL: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_14/GS_14-318.7.htmlFetched: 10/19/2026