Criminal False Positive
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May 9, 2025 Shoshana Walter, a keen reporter at Reveal, teams up with Susan Horton, a mother whose life was turned upside down by a false positive opiate test after eating a poppy seed salad. They delve into the emotional chaos of Susan facing intervention from child welfare authorities just as she welcomed her newborn. The discussion highlights the chilling effects of medical misdiagnosis, the ongoing battle against wrongful accusations, and the desperate need for reform in drug testing practices. A compelling listen for anyone intrigued by the intersection of justice and family.
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Poppy Seed Salad Drug Test Anecdote
- Susan Horton ate a poppy seed salad before birth and later tested positive for opiates.
- She was wrongly accused of drug use and her baby was held by child welfare authorities.
ADHD Medication False Positive
- Grace Smith tested positive for methamphetamine due to her prescribed ADHD medication Vyvanse.
- Her newborn was taken by authorities; police forcibly removed her from the hospital.
Unreliable Drug Tests Issue
- Urine drug tests for new mothers are non-specific and have high false positive rates, nearing 50%.
- Hospitals often act on preliminary results without confirmatory testing, risking wrongful child welfare involvement.