Police: Woman shot up opioid hours before giving birth

IOWA CITY - A Clinton woman told police she shot up a heroin-like opioid hours before giving birth.

According to a University of Iowa Department of Public Safety criminal complaint, officers were called to the Labor and Delivery Unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics on April 25 after staff found a suspected controlled substance. Staff turned over two needles and two spoons, all of which had some residue on it. Two other syringes and a lighter were also given to police.

Officers spoke with the woman who was in possession of those items, 38-year-old Heather L. Rice. Rice told police she regularly uses the spoons and needles to shoot up heroin.

Police said Rice reported that she injected heroin four hours before arriving at UIHC to give birth. The items were sent to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation lab for testing and the residue on one spoon came back positive for hydromorphone, an opioid similar to heroin. Hydromorphone is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance, meaning it has an accepted medical use, but has a high potential for abuse and psychological or physical dependency.

Rice has been arrested and faces one count of possession of a controlled substance - third or subsequent offense. The Class D felony carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.