Drug addicts' babies

[SomeGuy]

Second story in three days about babies being given methadone: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/10294317.stm "Couple admit giving toddler methadone before death"

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_east_and_fife/10264909.stm "Woman jailed for giving baby methadone-soaked dummy"

Is it normal, from a child protection perspective, for heroin addicts to be allowed to bring up children? And is it wise?

Well, sadly there are a lot of children born to parents who are addicts. So to remove every child of an addicted parent would truly swamp the system.

Disgusting

Yes - many heroin addicts have children and are allowed to keep them. It depends on their level of parenting and ability to care for the child. The argument is that just because you use drugs doesn't make you necessarily a bad parent.

I have worked with drug users in the past and am sorry I don't agree with that view. Good luck to anyone who kicks an addicition but heroin seldom allows anyone to put the needs of others before their own drug use.

While I'm not mad on the idea of someone being in charge of a child while out of their head, it's not quite so straightforward is it. You'd have to remove the children from every family where a parent drank alcohol.

Sort of brings back that Project Prevention discussion - the scheme to pay habitual drug users to get long-term contraception or sterilisation. What's worse? Allowing junkies to have children that are removed, harmed or neglected, or incentivising them to keep children out of the equation?

I have to say - from my experience I didn't see any kids who were having a great life unfortunately. Dragged from pillar to post, strapped in buggies while their parents scored, palmed off on anyone who would have them.

Iirc correctly there was a very interesting tv doc about a middle class/actually fairly wealthy heroin addict (or maybe, even worse, it was both parents who were heroin addicts) and his family life on tv not that long ago. They still had their children with them but were able to throw money at the problem in terms of paid-for child care. Most heroin addicts would not wish actual harm or neglect on their children, I am sure, but that is what happens when their spending priorities go on drugs.