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Original poster

Woman jailed over Methadone dummy

52 replies

fifitot · 08/06/2010 17:01

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_east_and_fife/10264909.stm

Not that giving babies drugs is especially unusual in some circles unfortunately but FFS.

OP posts:
weegiemum · 09/06/2010 09:26

A lot of them are probably selling it too.

I've hear dour pharmacist, not in the consulatations as they have a wee room, but on the "in and out" bit of the consultation.

I asked dh once why that pharmacist was so chatty with them and he told me its cos you have to be sure the patient has swallowed the methadone.

Apparantly in Glasgow there is a lively trade in spat-out methadone! Ewwww!

expatinscotland · 09/06/2010 09:28

Oh, the guy downstairs was flogging his.

He offered to buy my tranqs, codeine and asked if I knew anyone on anti-seizure drugs.

They apparently intensify and prolong the high from the fix.

pinkmagic1 · 09/06/2010 09:31

I am that this person has a bottle of methadone at home. I honestly thought all addicts had to go to the chemist to have it administered.
Personally I don't think heroin addicts should be able to care for their children until they are clean. Very, very sad story.

FellatioNelson · 09/06/2010 12:20

Nice. Somebody will no doubt be working on a rehabilitation programme for her right now, so her baby can be given back once it's been passed round foster care while she does her time.

Alouiseg · 09/06/2010 12:27

Which will cost thousands that we don't have.

differentID · 09/06/2010 12:27

2 years ago, near where I live, a 2 year old died after drinking the methadone that was in the house.

I honestly believe that if there are children in the homes of addicts, then the children should be removed from their "care"

funnysinthegarden · 09/06/2010 13:36

I think that the controversial 'long term contraception for addicts in return for a small wad of cash' is a very good idea. Addicts and children should not mix

FellatioNelson · 09/06/2010 14:14

I suggested that on here once. You'd have thought I was Hitler come back from the dead.

Original poster
fifitot · 09/06/2010 14:15

Have worked with drug users and tbh have no sympathy with them at all. There IS help but many choose not to take it. Drug use is an indicator that the risk of neglect is higher but not suprisingly social services don't routinely get involved unless there is an indicident.

Saw kids strapped into buggies for hours on end being dragged from house to house while their parent's 'scored' or heard about the kids being left while the parents slept all day when coming down. it's heartbreaking. Women continuing to inject when pregnant, making no effort to come off.

There was an argument that you could be an effective parent AND a drug user but sorry I never saw any evidence of it.

OP posts:
Alouiseg · 09/06/2010 14:22

I wanted them permanently sterilised.

It was a particularly loony day on mn.

Original poster
fifitot · 09/06/2010 14:27

Yes Alouiseq - I can imagine that went down well!!!!

Not sure I'd go that far but there has to be a better way than pure tolerance of drug use and alcohol use too to be honest - where the parents have kids, especially young kids.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 09/06/2010 14:30

I lose sympathy with addicts after living over them for the past 8 months.

Alouiseg · 09/06/2010 14:33

As Fifitot says, there is help but they'd rather keep on getting smacked up. The drugs will always be more important to them than their children.

LimaCharlie · 09/06/2010 14:36

FFS surely an addict knows the damage that they're doing to themselves by dint of the effect their addiction has on them - how can they not know that it is dangerous to give even the smallest amount to a 10 week old baby.

Alouiseg I'm right with you -I like to think of myself as quite liberal but drugs have no place in a home with children

KodakTheBat · 09/06/2010 14:38

The baby should have been taken off her at the hospital. No second chance. Should have been given to a family that would put a baby, not drugs, first. Same for anybody additicted to drugs. If they can't kick it while pregnant, they give up their child.

I have first hand experience of this, and I know that anyone with a strong will and good heart (something that babies tend to bring out in people) would kick a heroin addiction in an instant if they thought it meant loosing their kids.

DorotheaPlenticlew · 09/06/2010 14:42

This is local to me. Poor little sausage. I hope he's in a really loving foster placement.

expatinscotland · 09/06/2010 14:43

I must admit, as I am originally from the US, there is a lot more help here. And free, readily available birth control.

You get pretty much FA in the US. And you also get thrown in prison for long stretches of time.

And you don't get many 'chances'.

expatinscotland · 09/06/2010 14:43

When it comes to babies and children, they should be ones given a chance. Not a parent who is addicted.

Alouiseg · 09/06/2010 14:54

When I'm Prime Minister I will pass a law that babies born to addicted parents are automatically adopted. If being pregnant isn't enough to make you kick the habit then you will never be a good enough parent.

KodakTheBat · 09/06/2010 15:07

Agreed Alousieg. You have my vote...

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 09/06/2010 15:26

I'm shocked that they had the methadone at home too. I have worked with several young people who are on methadone and they all have to get their dose at the pharmacy.

When we take them away on resis they have to organise individual doses which we store securely and adminster.

It seems counterproductive to give it in large doses to take home, surely that is an unfair amount of temptation.

I also think that is deeply unfair to suggest that any person who is on methadone shouldn't be allowed to have kids.

Several of the methadone users that I worked with pretty much had their lives sorted out - they were just taking (low) doses of methadone to ease them of the last of the physical withdrawal symptoms.

I would guess that lots more kids come to harm through parents drinking than taking methadone.

Original poster
fifitot · 09/06/2010 15:33

I too have worked with drug users and unfortunately many were using Methadone AND other opiates. yes there are sucesses but not sure there are any stats to back up the suggestion that more kids come to harm through drinking than drugs. Depends on how you define harm I guess and at the end of the day, does it matter what the substance use is>

If someone is putting their own needs for drugs/drink before the child then why is it unfair that they should not be allowed to care for a child?

OP posts:
Alouiseg · 09/06/2010 15:54

Most decent, loving, caring parents would walk over hot coals for their children. They would run in front of a lorry to save their children, they would be capable of speed and strength to rescue their child from a dangerous or painful situation.

So I just don't get why they won't give up.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 09/06/2010 17:43

Fifitot I agree with you completely that If someone is putting their own needs for drugs/drink before the child, then that child should be removed. However, I do not believe that if some one uses alcohol then the child should automatically be removed.

"AlouiseG* I wish it was that easy to0 give up

FellatioNelson · 09/06/2010 18:01

No-one's saying it is easy to give up. But if your child is not your top priority when you get up in the morning then there is no hope. You can't be allowed to keep a child you are incapable of keeping safe, and putting first, just because your need for the drugs or the booze is stronger than your need to protect them. Once you slip below a certain point it can no longer be about you and your needs and wishes. It has to be about the child. There are only a few short years to limit the potential (massive)damage. There is no time to fuck about giving people chances because they are sad.

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