She Ate a Poppy Seed Salad. Child Services Took Her Baby.
Digest
Stacey Abrams' podcast "Assembly Required" delves into the issue of false positive drug tests during childbirth, examining the stories of mothers who were wrongly accused and faced invasive investigations by child protective services. The episode explores the scientific aspects of drug testing, explaining the common methods used and the high rates of false positives. Experts discuss the limitations of initial screening tests and the importance of confirmation testing to ensure accuracy. The episode also examines the legal and ethical implications of false positive drug tests, highlighting the potential for criminal charges against mothers who are wrongly accused. The episode explores the disproportionate impact on women of color and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The episode concludes by advocating for reform in drug testing practices for pregnant women, calling for the implementation of safeguards and protections similar to those already in place for workers. The episode emphasizes the need for confirmation testing, proper investigation, and a more nuanced approach to addressing potential drug use during pregnancy.
Outlines
False Positive Drug Tests and the Impact on New Mothers
This episode investigates the issue of false positive drug tests during childbirth, highlighting the stories of mothers who were wrongly accused and faced invasive investigations by child protective services. The episode explores the consequences of these false accusations, including the potential for separation from their newborns and the lasting emotional and legal repercussions.
The Science Behind False Positive Drug Tests
This episode delves into the scientific aspects of drug testing, explaining the common methods used and the high rates of false positives. Experts discuss the limitations of initial screening tests and the importance of confirmation testing to ensure accuracy.
Legal and Ethical Implications of False Positive Drug Tests
This episode examines the legal and ethical implications of false positive drug tests, highlighting the potential for criminal charges against mothers who are wrongly accused. The episode explores the disproportionate impact on women of color and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
The Need for Reform and Protection for Mothers
This episode concludes by advocating for reform in drug testing practices for pregnant women, calling for the implementation of safeguards and protections similar to those already in place for workers. The episode emphasizes the need for confirmation testing, proper investigation, and a more nuanced approach to addressing potential drug use during pregnancy.
Keywords
False Positive Drug Test
A test result that incorrectly indicates the presence of a drug when the individual has not actually used the substance. This can be caused by various factors, including the presence of other substances in the urine sample, such as poppy seeds or certain medications.
Confirmation Testing
A more definitive drug test that analyzes the molecules in a urine sample to confirm the presence of a specific drug. This is crucial to avoid false positives and ensure accurate results.
Child Protective Services (CPS)
A government agency responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect. In the context of false positive drug tests, CPS may be involved in investigating mothers who are wrongly accused of drug use, potentially leading to the removal of their children from their care.
Opioid Epidemic
A public health crisis characterized by widespread addiction to opioid drugs, such as heroin and prescription painkillers. The opioid epidemic has contributed to an increase in drug testing of pregnant women, leading to a rise in false positive results and the separation of mothers from their newborns.
Universal Screening
A practice in which all patients who come in to give birth are drug tested, regardless of any indication of drug use. This approach has been criticized for its potential to lead to false positives and unnecessary interventions.
Mandated Reporter
A person who is legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the authorities. Medical providers, including doctors and nurses, are mandated reporters, which can lead to the reporting of mothers who test positive for drugs, even if the results are false.
Postpartum Depression
A mood disorder that can occur after childbirth, characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness. False positive drug tests can contribute to postpartum depression by adding stress and anxiety to an already challenging time.
Hair Follicle Test
A drug test that analyzes hair samples to detect the presence of drugs over a longer period, typically three months. This type of test can be helpful in confirming or refuting drug use when initial urine tests are inconclusive.
Reproductive Rights
The rights of individuals to make decisions about their own bodies and reproductive health, including access to contraception, abortion, and prenatal care. False positive drug tests can infringe on reproductive rights by interfering with a mother's ability to make decisions about her own health and the care of her child.
Q&A
What are some common substances that can cause false positive drug tests?
Common cold medications, poppy seeds, certain blood pressure medications like Libatolol, ADHD medications like Byvance, and even some baby soaps can trigger false positive results for various drugs.
Why are hospitals drug testing pregnant women?
Hospitals drug test pregnant women to assess the health of the baby and ensure its safety. They are concerned about potential drug withdrawal symptoms in newborns and the possibility of a parent's drug use affecting their ability to care for the child.
What are the consequences of a false positive drug test for a new mother?
A false positive drug test can lead to the separation of the mother from her newborn, invasive investigations by child protective services, and even criminal charges. The experience can also cause lasting emotional trauma and damage to the mother's relationship with her child.
What steps can be taken to prevent false positive drug tests and protect mothers?
Hospitals should implement confirmation testing to verify initial screening results, provide mothers with information about substances that can cause false positives, and ensure that investigations by child protective services are conducted fairly and with sensitivity.
Show Notes
Pregnant with her fifth child, Susan Horton had a lot of confidence in her parenting abilities. Then she ate a salad from Costco: an “everything” chopped salad kit with poppy seeds. When she went to the hospital to give birth the next day, she tested positive for opiates. Horton told doctors that it must have been the poppy seeds, but she couldn’t convince them it was true. She was reported to child welfare authorities, and a judge removed Horton’s newborn from her care.
“They had a singular piece of evidence,” Horton said, “and it was wrong.”
Hospitals across the country routinely drug test people coming in to give birth. But the tests many hospitals use are notoriously imprecise, with false positive rates of up to 50 percent for some drugs. People taking over-the-counter cold medicine or prescribed medications can test positive for methamphetamine or opiates.
This week on Reveal, our collaboration with The Marshall Project investigates why parents across the country are being reported to child protective services over inaccurate drug test results. Reporter Shoshana Walter digs into the cases of women who were separated from their babies after a pee-in-a-cup drug test triggered a cascade of events they couldn’t control.
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