After undergoing a drug test following childbirth, Susan Horton was shocked to learn that she had tested positive for opiates due to consuming poppy seeds in her salad. Despite her claims and lack of history of drug use, the hospital reported her to child welfare, leading to her newborn being taken into protective custody. Further investigation by The Marshall Project and Reveal highlighted the prevalence of false positive results in drug tests conducted on newborns and their parents, which often trigger unnecessary investigations by child welfare agencies.
The article delves into the shortcomings of urine drug screens, the lack of confirmation testing, and the disproportionate impact of false positives on low-income, Black, Hispanic, and Native American women. Despite federal guidelines calling for confirmation tests and trained reviews for drug screens in the workplace, such standards have not been widely adopted in maternity care. As a result, many parents face unwarranted accusations of drug use and potential separation from their children due to flawed drug testing practices.
The story features several instances of parents, including Horton, who fought to prove their innocence after false positive drug test results. While some medical groups advocate for alternatives to drug testing and explicit consent from patients, the prevailing practice of reporting families based on unconfirmed positive screens remains widespread. The author illustrates the emotional toll and lasting fear faced by parents like Horton, who live in constant apprehension that child welfare services may intervene in their lives based on erroneous drug test results.
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