So someone tests positive and their kids suffer. More.
Yeah, maybe not. This is a cultural issue, simplistic band-aids aren't enough.
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I guess the kids are not suffering enough by having to live with a drug addict who spends all the money we give to them on drugs, while the kids go hungry, and do without the basics of life.
Perhaps we should actually make it better for the kids, by making adoption more attractive in this country, for this countries own children. Then if drug addicted parents didn't want to get off the drugs, we could take the children and give them to people who actually wanted them. Instead of parents who deserve to be put down like a rabid dog.
How would that happen, logistically?
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If we can keep the parents off drugs, the money is there to be spent on the kids.
But what about in the meantime? Cut off the dollars and kids suffer (even more than they already are) until Mom and/or Dad get their shit together? If they
ever do? I can't do that to a kid, let alone the hundreds of thousands or millions who would suffer here.
I think we have the same goal here, but I suspect it's going to take heavier lifting. This is a cultural problem, in addition to being a legal problem and a fiscal issue.
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Putting the kids in foster care where they can be looked after until the parents get their act together might be an option...
Then mandate rehab for the parents (along with a period of drug testing after rehab to make sure they stay clean), before taking another look at custody and any future benefits...
Screw up again, say goodbye to benefits, declare the adults unfit parents, and make other arrangements for the kids...
We need to look out for the kids, not just ignore the problem and subsidize drug dealers.
Nice to know there are other posters here who are willing to talk things through and toss out real ideas, without personal insults and name-calling.
I sure wish there were more of it here, but I'm happy to see this!
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Actually, I'm aware of judges requiring a parent to take drug tests for the court in child custody cases, so there shouldn't be a legal issue as far as custody goes.
The main thing to remember is that the kid has no control over their circumstances, so if the child is being deprived or going hungry, they are totally dependent on the system to look out for their interests...
In some instances, the best thing to do is remove the child from the situation and get them where they can be properly cared for, along with getting the parent treatment (with the goal of the parent regaining custody later if treatment is successful)...
Of course, the child could continue to receive benefits through their guardian under those circumstances...