Police charged a Manassas woman with child abuse after authorities said she fed a 3-month-old methadone to calm the child.

Investigators would not say whether the woman, Jessica F. Nicholson, was related to the child.

Nicholson was arrested after the infant was drug-tested at a hospital last weekend, a Manassas police spokeswoman said Friday.

The child was admitted to the hospital Dec. 3 in a “state of respiratory distress,” police said.

Testing revealed that the infant was under the influence of methadone, said Adrienne Helms, a spokeswoman with the police department. Helms said an investigation revealed that Nicholson orally administered the opiate in an attempt to calm the baby.

Jessica F. Nicholson (Manassas City Police Department)

Authorities said the infant is expected to recover without any long-term health complications.

Nicholson is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 7.