Re: Drug Testing in Child Protection Cases

["Rachel Zilberman" <splisner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----------
> From: Jennifer Guimond <jguimond@niu.edu>
> To: Child Maltreatment Researchers  
<CHILD-MALTREATMENT-RESEARCH-L@cornell.edu>
> Subject: Re: Drug Testing in Child Protection Cases
> Date: Thursday, August 20, 1998 11:47 PM
> 
> I don't know much about the literature in child welfare cases, but in
terms of
> practice, children can be removed from parental custody if they test
positive
> for alcohol or drugs at birth.  There have been arguments that action
should be
> taken against women who test positive during pregnancy, but to my
knowledge
> nothing but education ever actually takes place.
> 
> Good Luck,
> Jennifer Guimond

That's true though there is no justification for it. Most studies show that
the alarmists concern on this issue is not justified by the data.

There may be other reasons for the children to be protected. However the
positive test alone is not one.

SimchaPlisner MSW JD