What Next | Daily News and Analysis Should Hospitals Drug Test New Moms?
Apr 17, 2025
Shoshana Walter, an investigative reporter for The Marshall Project focusing on social justice, dives into the controversial practice of drug testing new mothers in U.S. hospitals. They discuss the troubling implications of false positives and the emotional toll on families, particularly in light of the opioid crisis. Walter highlights the historical context of these tests and advocates for better protocols to protect maternal health. The conversation also touches on the lasting psychological effects of these interactions, emphasizing the importance of keeping mothers and infants together.
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Origins of Drug Testing New Moms
- Drug testing new mothers began during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic to identify "crack babies."
- Federal laws later required notification of child welfare if newborns were affected by substances, influencing hospital policies.
Unreliable Drug Tests at Birth
- Drug tests at birth can yield false positives and lack confirmatory testing common in workplace testing.
- No state mandates more accurate follow-up tests or protections for birthing patients unlike employment drug tests.
Susan Horton's False Positive Case
- Susan Horton, an experienced mom, tested positive for opiates after eating poppy seed salad dressing.
- Her newborn was removed for two weeks despite no confirmed drug use, illustrating harms of testing policies.