Reveal They Followed Doctors’ Orders. The State Took Their Babies.
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Aug 2, 2025 
Shoshana Walter, a seasoned reporter for Reveal, delves deep into the harrowing stories of mothers facing child welfare investigations due to their prescribed addiction medications. Jade Dass shares her personal struggle after taking Suboxone during pregnancy and losing custody of her newborn. The discussion uncovers the disconnection between medical advice and state actions, emphasizing societal stigma and the emotional turmoil families endure. Walter's upcoming book further explores these critical issues, shedding light on the intersection of motherhood, addiction, and systemic challenges.
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Family Became Fugitives After State Intervention
- Jade Dass and her family were on a camping trip when police arrived due to a state investigation.
- They became fugitives after the Arizona Department of Child Safety took their baby due to her taking prescribed Suboxone during pregnancy.
Drug Laws Impact Mothers Differently
- Laws from the crack epidemic era criminalized drug use during pregnancy, disproportionately affecting Black women.
- The opioid epidemic led to more compassionate treatment laws but also increased child welfare surveillance for mothers on prescription medications.
CARA Law Expanded Reporting of Substance Exposure
- The 2016 CARA law expanded reporting requirements to include all substances affecting newborns, legal or illegal.
- This created a system where many mothers taking prescribed addiction medications are reported and investigated unnecessarily.