Imprecise drug tests are still in wide use—and they can be the basis of life-altering decisions by child protective agencies.

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** THE WEEKLY REVEAL
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Saturday, September 7, 2024

Hello! In this issue:
* We partner with The Marshall Project to investigate error-prone drug tests with massive consequences.
* In many states, pregnant women are being reported to child welfare agencies for taking prescribed addiction-treatment medications—and some are losing custody of their babies.

Support deep investigations that change lives. Become a member ([link removed]) .


** THIS WEEK’S PODCAST
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** She Ate a Poppy Seed Salad. Child Services Took Her Baby.
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Susan Horton walks with her youngest daughter, Halle, in Cotati, California, in July 2024. Child protective services had removed Halle from Horton’s care soon after she was born because of results from an error-prone drug test. Credit: Marissa Leshnov for The Marshall Project

It’s a routine request for someone who’s about to give birth: pee in a cup. But the cheap, easy drug test that follows can have massive and unjust implications for a new mother.

Urine drug tests can be misinterpreted. False positives are shockingly common. This week on Reveal, we partner with The Marshall Project’s Shoshana Walter to investigate the error-prone drug tests that can determine whether brand-new parents are allowed to take their newborn home.
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** A Quote to Remember
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“‘Mother is neglecting the child due to substance abuse.’ I don't know how they could say that.”

Jade Dass was taking medication to treat her addiction to opioids before she became pregnant. Scientific studies and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that taking addiction-treatment medications during pregnancy leads to the best outcomes for both mothers and babies.
But after Dass delivered a healthy daughter, the hospital reported her to the Arizona Department of Child Safety.

Listen: They Followed Doctors’ Orders. The State Took Their Babies. ([link removed])

Dip Deeper: Read Walter’s investigation in collaboration with The New York Times Magazine. ([link removed])


** In Case You Missed It
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🎧 The Churn ([link removed])
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🎧 ([link removed]) A Baby Adopted, A Family Divided ([link removed])
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This issue of The Weekly Reveal was written by Kate Howard and edited by Daniel King. If you enjoyed this issue, forward it to a friend ([link removed]) . Have some thoughts? Drop us a line (mailto:[email protected]) with feedback or ideas!

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