A Colorado woman is facing child abuse charges after she allegedly tried to use nicotine patches to cure a 4-year-old child’s “behavioral issues.” According to Fox 21, the child’s behavioral issues are not named in the arrest affidavit, but they’re described as “repetitive behaviors,” “sensitivity to loud noises,” emotional dysregulation, and challenges with “understanding social cues” and forming complete sentences.
Tammy Eddings-Dion, 53, was looking after the 4-year-old on April 3, 2025, and allegedly put nicotine patches on him, the news outlet reported. The boy later ended up in the hospital due to nicotine poisoning.
Per the affidavit, the 4-year-old boy seemed unwell when a family member picked him up that day. In addition to being lethargic, the boy also started vomiting, prompting the family to seek medical care. At the hospital, his condition worsened. While being treated, a nicotine patch was found on the child’s leg, Fox 21 reported. Medical staff treated the child for nicotine poisoning. After leaving the hospital, a family member found another nicotine patch on the boy.
The family member reportedly had reasons to think Eddings-Dion was to blame for this. Apparently, Eddings-Dion had texted the family member about nicotine patches before. In March, Eddings-Dion reportedly told the family member that she had ordered a 30-day supply of nicotine patches to try them. She said she had done some research and believed that nicotine patches would help treat the 4-year-old boy’s symptoms. The relative told Eddings-Dion that they did not approve of this idea.
Although Eddings-Dion later admitted to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office that she did, in fact, buy nicotine patches for this reason, she denied using them on the boy. She claimed she hadn’t opened the package yet and didn’t even know where she put them.
But after the 4-year-old was treated at the hospital, the relative called Eddings-Dion and accused her of harming the child. During the recorded call, Eddings-Dion said she wouldn’t do anything to harm the boy, Fox 21 reported. When the family member told her that she did harm the boy, Eddings-Dion said she didn’t do it on purpose.
Eddings-Dion faces charges of felony child abuse and crimes against an at-risk juvenile.
