Hechosedrugs

After being forced to continue allowing unsupervised visitation by my children's father because our judge refused to see that my ex's drug abuse was, in fact, placing our children in harm's way, I started researching. I had always had a feeling that my children seemed "off" when they returned from visits. I wanted to believe it was probably just the copious amounts of screen time and lack of sleep they got when in his care, but something told me there was more to it. I started googling passive meth exposure in children, and what I found was shocking.

Unlike adults, who have to actually USE methamphetamine (whether by inhalation, ingestion, or injection) in order for a drug test result to be positive, children can absorb the drug passively. They need only be in a room where the drug is smoked. Hair follicle testing is the most sensitive test available for passive exposure in children and many CPS workers have incorporated it into their investigations (though sadly, many have not gotten the memo and continue to rely on urinalysis, which often leads to false-negatives). As many of you know, I had my son tested and his was indeed positive- very positive. When children register levels as high as an adult user, chances are the drug is being manufactured in the residence.

Even though I had a sneaking suspicion that my children were being exposed to the drug, I was still shocked to see that positive result. Even morre shocking was that when I went on a search for an expert to testify on how this could have happened, none seemed to know a thing about it. Every toxicologist I spoke to said the same thing: The only way someone can test positive is by actually using the drug themselves. This was problematic, considering my ex was already trying to turn this around on me, saying I must have given my child drugs in order to frame him. I located a woman who had been interviewed for an article I read on passive exposure. She is the white house appointed expert on drug endangered children. But my lawyer said her testimony would not be enough, as she is not a scientist. I freaking can't stand my lawyer. I really feel like she stood in my way so many times. I mean, this lady is an expert, and if the scientists don't know the science behind this then what good are they?

Oh, I could go on and on.

But the point is:

If you have someone using meth in your household, your children are being exposed. GET OUT. And another point is, the experts need to freaking stay up to date on new info. Yesterday I finally got on the ball and shared my story with a news outlet, my congressman, and dear old President Trump. I'm going to keep making noise about this because I can't rest. I'm still so upset. Yes, my kids are finally safe. He finally has supervised visitation, but it's not enough. He put us through hell. He probably caused irreparable damage to my children's brains. If a woman exposes her baby it is taken away at childbirth. Where's the gender equality movement on this issue?

Anyway, as I said, I could go on and on.

But here are some links to articles and research I wish others would take the time to look at.

Blessings.

Expert explains how children test positive for meth when exposed at home | KFOX

Hair drug testing of children suspected of exposure to the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Almost half (45%) of the children tested positive for methamphetamine.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21420647

Identifying methamphetamine exposure in children.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24263642

Quantitative analysis of methamphetamine in hair of children removed from clandestine laboratories--evidence of passive exposure?

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22300795

hopeful4

Ugh. It is so awful.

I truly feel the judge in your case is neglectful and should be prosecuted. Keep screaming out friend!!!!

Sending you HUGE hugs!

Hechosedrugs

Thanks, Hopeful.

I feel like the judge is the one that gets to me the most. He had absolutely no right to keep insisting I send them over there. So my ex had a right to a trial to contest his positive drug test results? Fine. Let him have supervised visitation in the meantime. It made no sense not to air on the side of caution.

But as far as I've been told judges have judicial immunity. I can report him, but it's unlikely he'd be held accountable and more than likely it would just **** him off and work against me the next time we're back in court .

I was hesitant to even write to the news outlet, but I couldn't take it anymore.

The police, the judge, my own lawyer, the toxicologists- this whole situation has been a mess of incompetence.

Gm0824

HCD, you are doing an amazing job advocating for your children's safety and hopefully other children in your area in similar circumstances. Where is the common sense?! I don't need to be a scientist to know even just being around meth is not good for children. I agree, if there is any level of uncertainty of a child's welfare, supervised visitations should be standard until the judge proves other wise.

Any chance on having a news outlet or another child advocacy program willing to foot the bill to have your children tested for meth and how much after each visit? I am not that familiar with hair follicle testing but from I understand it may be possible to have some sort of a "date stamp" for exposure.

GM

hopeful4

Keep going friend. There HAS to be a change in the family courts, and the way addiction is treated. It's negligent to the point of risking lives.

Hechosedrugs

I don't remember how much I've said about this, so I apologize if I'm repeating myself.

Law enforcement pretty much did nothing. I gave them my son's positive test and my ex's 4 positive tests. The deputy I spoke with said they would most likely get a warrant and search the place, but they never did. All they did was interview him. He presented negative drug tests (from the VA- NOT witness collected, they could have been anyone's ****) and the detective seemed to believe his story that I was "manipulative" and "in cahoots with the drug testing facility". He passed the case on to CPS, who did nothing for 3 months. CPS came and interviewed me. By that time, ex had supervised visitation (finally). CPS informed me that they would be closing the case, as the children were considered safe at the moment. I told the worker how scared I am that he may be able to fake a drug test and get unsupervised again. He told me if that happens that I should keep drug testing the kids. But really, I don't know. It almost seemed to hurt my case. For a moment I was really scared I was going to lose my kids because my ex was insisting I must have drugged them. And then that I also drugged him.

I'm really terrified of this man. He's not your average addict. He really is psychopathic. People who don't know him see the situation and think, "Wow. He's failed 6 drug tests. He's a meth addict." But I am telling you, people who have met him really do think- "Nah... got to be more to this story."

In Breakfast of Champions Vonnegut says that of all the weapons the white people used to conquer America, the most dangerous of all was charm. People just couldn't believe that such polite and interesting human beings were capable of such unspeakable evil. So true.

hopeful4

Wow. Friend, I think you should absolutely have a domestic abuse advocate and attorney working with you. How awful.