Drug Addiction Treatment: Methadone Symptoms & Side Effects

Question: Will my 17mos. old neice be taken away from my sister if she seeks drug addiction treatment?

(Posted by: momof4 on 2008-12-27 15:43:19)

My sister is recently separated from her husband. She and my 16mos. old niece live with my parents, who are supporting her in every way. We are concerned with my sisters serious drug addiction to pain killers, started after the birth of my niece. My sister has a fear if she seeks treatment, the baby will be taken away from her. Is this true? How could that be? If she seeks out treatment, and the 72 hours she is in detox, her family will be taking care of the baby.

Posted by: J. Scott on 2008-12-29, 12:11:41

The child will not be taken away without an incident, or sufficient reason to suspect the baby is in danger. The fact that your parents are able to take care of the baby only helps this cause. If she is checking into a private drug rehab (pay upfront, or through your health insurance) then there won't be an investigation into her life other than her ability to pay for the treatment. Conversely there will be more of a prying eye from a govt. subsidized addiction treatment program, seeing as how they can't accept everyone, so anyone looking for this type of treatment will undergo more scrutiny. The first step in the progression toward her sobriety is her admittance of an addiction and her willingness to go treatment. Your parents letting her stay with them and supporting and looking after her and the baby is an absolutely ideal situation for someone to have post rehab. The love and support of the family is key to recovery. I don't think she will have anything to worry about.

Posted by: Blether T on 2008-12-27, 15:48:30

The child wont be taken away. She will be asking for help and she lives with parents everything will be fine if she gets the help she needs. Good luck

Posted by: Pick A Winner on 2008-12-27, 16:01:30

The only way is if she tells the therapists something which leads them to believe that the baby is in danger. I think then, you would agree, that the baby should be taken away if it is in danger.