Cocaine Babies Cause for Neglect?

A New Jersey court is considering whether a baby born with cocaine in its system is cause to charge the mother with neglect. The case is based on the circumstances of one mother, who gave birth in 2007 and tested positive for cocaine—shortly afterward, her baby’s feces were also tested and shown to contain cocaine. The case has come all the way to New Jersey’s highest court, after the Department of Children and Families charged the woman with neglect. Opponents say that the tests did not show the levels of drugs in the babies body, and so cannot show whether the baby had ingested a harmful amount.

It is a simple fact that pregnant women should avoid drugs: meth, cocaine, marijuana, PCP, heroin, prescription pills (unless given by a doctor), and others. Even alcohol is advised against. Yet some mothers in the grip of addiction or compulsion cannot help themselves. That’s why it’s so important to get treatment before seeking a pregnancy. Addiction can cause people to do things they wouldn’t normally do, including endangering their children.

If you have a problem with drug addiction or dependence, you should seek help before you do something that harms a loved one. Thankfully, there is good help available. Detoxification and behavioral therapy have proven to be effective in treating drug dependence. Addicts are often unable to complete treatment on their own or with family members, so it’s very important to seek the right treatment center. At Seabrook, we customize our treatment plans to individual patient’s needs, so you know the help you’re getting is right for you or a loved one. Seabrook has rehabilitation centers in New Jersey (NJ), Pennsylvania (PA), and an outpatient center in New York (NY). Contact Seabrook today for any questions about drugs, addiction, and treatment.