Drug Testing Newborns And Mothers - What's The Go?

[sparkler]

Hi all, I'm a newbie to this site and this is my first post

 

Does anyone know whether newborns are tested for illicit substances (including Cannabis) at or after birth here in Australia? And does it depend on which state you're in?

 

I have researched this topic many times online and the only information I can find relating to this topic is from overseas, mainly the U.S.A and the U.K. The general information is "Doctors will only test newborns if they show signs of drug addiction/withdrawl and if the parents consent to the drug test being done". There are also articles and posts (from overseas) that say babies can and are often taken away from parents if they test positive for drugs, including THC.

 

I'm wondering if it's the same story here in Australia?

 

Thanks

[annaonthemountain]

Hello sparkler,

Unless things have changed in the 4 years since I had a baby, newborns and mothers are not routinely tested for illicit drug use.

 

You could always phone a birth centre or hospital/maternity hospital and ask if you were really worried about it.

Cheers, Anna

[cybergenesis]

Pretty weird question, babies don't generally have drug abuse problems...

 

Are you worried about drugs being detected in your baby? If so perhaps the baby should be kept away from all drugs, including marijuana.

[annaonthemountain]

Babies don't have the drug abuse probelm as such, but their mothers sometimes do and therefore so do they. An unborn baby is subject to EVERYTHING a mother ingests ,inhales and imbibes.

 

 

A hospital may test a mother if they have a VERY SOLID reason to believe the baby is at risk.. Usually this relates to drugs that are causing the mother or mother to be to have obvious withdrawals.

[Rose Gardener]

A hospital may test a mother if they have a VERY SOLID reason to believe the baby is at risk.. Usually this relates to drugs that are causing the mother or mother to be to have obvious withdrawals.

 

Yep. As far as I am currently aware, the only time they test younguns is if there are signs of withdrawals....

[wisdom]

For those who want the truth and not the lies and false reports the government puts out.

 

I'm not sure about testing, which is something I'm trying to find out as well and see what the whole deal with that is, but I highly doubt that there will be a specific test unless the mother looks like a crackhead.