“Mother’s love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved.”
Erich Fromm

After nine months of carrying a baby, one of the most emotionally traumatic things that could happen to a mother is to lose that baby or have the baby taken out of her custody. In a recent forum on a site called Mothering, a woman asked a question many young mothers might ask – will they take my baby if they discover about my drug use? This mother admitted to her OBGYN that she had been using marijuana for her chronic back pain for several years, not knowing that the doctor was required by law to report this to Child Protective Services (CPS) for further investigation.

False Positives

A recent study at the University of Utah School of medicine showed that with immunoassay testing (urine samples) of infants, there were several “unresolved discrepancies”. While adults who are given immunoassay testing in the workplace have shown many false positives, the rate of infants with false positives is alarmingly high.

Often when an infant tests positive for drugs, the penalties that come are instantaneous and serious. A California social worker will conduct an assessment of the needs of the mother and child, and a report will be filed. If your child has been tested and the results came back as positive, ask for a second test. Among other things, false positive drug tests can be linked to such things as stemming from having taken prescription opioids, having eaten poppy seeds (eg. pasta salad), or having used marijuana for medicinal purposes.

True Positives

You should expect to hear from Child Protective Services if your child tested positive. Infants who are dependent on drugs will have trouble sleeping or eating and sometimes suffer from seizures. Many suffer from skin conditions and tremors. Sometimes babies get so agitated that they constantly scratch and rub their faces. Some mothers have unwittingly taken prescription drugs that cause their unborn children to become dependent. Part of the solution is better education – some are lobbying to have the FDA require that pharmaceutical companies put clear warning labels on prescription drug bottles for the benefit of mothers to know the imminent dangers of taking drugs during pregnancy.

Contact Us

If you have been accused of child abuse or endangering a child, take advantage of the experienced counsel of the skilled and proven professionals at the Law Firm of Wesley Schroeder. We are ready to help you and your family pursue the best possible outcome in your case.

Call (408) 277-0377 or contact us online to schedule an appointment with our firm and let us get started on your case today.