The Government Is Taking Babies Away Because Their Moms Ate Poppy Seeds
Hospitals around the nation are administering unreliable drug tests to pregnant women, and siccing child welfare authorities upon them based on the results, according to a new investigation from The Marshall Project.
While we don’t know just how many pregnant women are drug tested, federal data examined by The Marshall Project reporter Shoshana Walter indicates that tens of thousands of babies are reported to authorities for suspected natal drug exposure.Â
Disturbingly, it’s been long known that these drug tests are unreliable. Urine drug tests commonly administered to pregnant women can have false positive rates as high as 50 percent. False positives frequently occur when someone is taking over-the-counter medications, common antidepressants, or routinely prescribed blood pressure medications. Women have even faced child welfare investigations after they ate poppy seeds (last year, the Department of Defense told service members to stop eating poppy seeds out of concerns they could cause false positives on drug tests.)
The aftermath of a false positive can be devastating.
“After a California mother had a false positive for meth and PCP, authorities took her newborn, then dispatched two sheriff’s deputies to also remove her toddler from her custody,” Walter wrote. “In New York, hospital administrators refused to retract a child welfare report based on a false positive result, and instead offered the mother counseling for her trauma…And when a Pennsylvania woman tested positive for opioids after eating pasta salad
Article from Reason.com
The Reason Magazine website is a go-to destination for libertarians seeking cogent analysis, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary. Championing the principles of individual freedom, limited government, and free markets, the site offers a diverse range of articles, videos, and podcasts that challenge conventional wisdom and advocate for libertarian solutions. Whether you’re interested in politics, culture, or technology, Reason provides a unique lens that prioritizes liberty and rational discourse. It’s an essential resource for those who value critical thinking and nuanced debate in the pursuit of a freer society.