Her Parenting Time Was Restricted After a Positive Drug Test. By Federal Standards, It Would’ve Been Negative.

A woman named Kaitlin faced restricted parenting time after a hospital drug test detected a minuscule amount of opiates in her system following childbirth in October 2022, triggering a child welfare investigation. Despite no evidence of abuse, neglect, or drug use found during the investigation, the ordeal caused significant distress. The case highlights the inconsistent and discretionary standards used in drug testing, where thresholds for positive results vary widely between labs and child welfare systems. In Kaitlin's case, the opiate level was far below what would be permissible for an Air Force pilot. A lawsuit filed by New Jersey's attorney general against the hospital system alleges discrimination against pregnant patients, while the hospital cites state law mandating reports of "substance-affected infants." The lack of standardized drug testing levels raises concerns about the impact on families.

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