do you think a child or children should be taken by CPS if parents are using illegal substances in the home? what about something like marijuana (i ask this as separate question because marijuana and it's effects are debatable)? so what do you think

if not medically prescribed then YES I do.. they are putting the children in harms way.. period..

JMO

i think if your child is being put in harms way because you are driving under the influence or unable to take care of them then they absolutely should be taken away. however i do feel too that if it is medicinally prescribed then no they shouldn't be taken away provided you aren't abusing it

Exactly what I was saying

I think it depends on the childs age and the care the child is receiving. I think in some cases the child would better off at home with mom or dad then forced into the system.

ETA I feel this way if the parents are only smoking pot. I think other drugs would just be to dangerous to have a child around at all

I think it all depends on the situation. Are they selling drugs from the home. Are they mixing toxic chemicals in the home. Is there 'rif raf' in and out the door. I don't think this question could be answered with a simple yes or no.

I think it all depends on the situation. Are they selling drugs from the home. Are they mixing toxic chemicals in the home. Is there 'rif raf' in and out the door. I don't think this question could be answered with a simple yes or no.

:agree

While I do not partake in partying Mary Jane anymore since becoming a parent. I do believe it should be made legal since it's not even close to be as toxic as other legal substances (but that is a whole other debate :giggle).

But when it comes to hardcore drugs, coke, meth, herion, uppers, downers, then yes.

If it's X, :dunno are they using it recreationaly or using it on an on going basis? If on a regular basis then yes CPS needs to step in.

:dunno It's a tough call

personally i feel that it is a yes....even something as simple as marijuana can impare your ability (i have been there and back again)....so even if you do it after the child is asleep...1.) if the child wakes up and needs something you may be unable to handle it because you're high 2.) it's smoked so some of that may possibly filter in to childrens bedroom "contact high" do you really want your children exposed to that....it's not like ciggs. where you can step outside so children don't inhale.....if your willing to sacrifice your children if caught for the sake of something illegal than i don't think you need to be having kids at that time..

IDK that's just my opinion..

This one is a toughy.

I used to find MJ harmless until I started to room with my soon to be ex-roomie. She has a nearly two year old and smokes herself silly EVERYday. So much so that she fell esleep for a nap and forgot to pick her daughter up from daycare. Plus, once she's out, she's out for the night. What should happen if one day her DD wakes up and needs her and she doens't wake up. KWIM???

I think it's a case by case thing.

hm my major is in social work and i worked in a preschool where CPS was constantly being called (low income preschool in whats been known as the "drug county") and im really opinionated sooooooo ill keep my opinion to myself:) but mostly i agree with harrisonsdream:)

So what about those that drink all the time even after the kids go to sleep. Or the ones who smoke in the same room as their children. Should parents who smoke ciggs be investigated by the CPS.

My opinon... Too many hens in the hen house (is that even the saying :puzz) Too many people are trying to regulate every body's lives. Too many people are trying to tell others what they can and can not do. Just like the gov't. It's funny how people are so quick to judge and say others can and can't do this, but the moment one of their rights are taken away they will bitch and complain about it.

So what about those that drink all the time even after the kids go to sleep. Or the ones who smoke in the same room as their children. Should parents who smoke ciggs be investigated by the CPS.

My opinon... Too many hens in the hen house (is that even the saying :puzz) Too many people are trying to regulate every body's lives. Too many people are trying to tell others what they can and can not do. Just like the gov't. It's funny how people are so quick to judge and say others can and can't do this, but the moment one of their rights are taken away they will bitch and complain about it.

:yes :agree

If all your money is going to support your habbit, your constantly forgetting about your childs activities at school, forgetting them at school, constantly having shady strangers over for drug activities, mixing toxic chemicals together in your home made "lab"...Then YES an the parents should go to jail for endangering a child.

I think it depends on the situation. Yes some people who drink excessively should not have their children Yes some people who smoke weed should not have their children but there are two sides to every coin. Not to mention back in the day it really wasn't that uncommen for the adults to smoke a joint before bed.

So what about those that drink all the time even after the kids go to sleep. Or the ones who smoke in the same room as their children. Should parents who smoke ciggs be investigated by the CPS.

My opinon... Too many hens in the hen house (is that even the saying :puzz) Too many people are trying to regulate every body's lives. Too many people are trying to tell others what they can and can not do. Just like the gov't. It's funny how people are so quick to judge and say others can and can't do this, but the moment one of their rights are taken away they will bitch and complain about it.

I agree. :yes

Well hell, DH should have been taken out of his parent's house when he was a kid (he didn't know until he was a teen but he was doing it as well).

But this brings up another question.........what about parents who smoke tobacco around their kids? Second hand smoke anyone :dunno

If in ANY WAY, can harm the child but air, neglect, physical, that child should be taken away. That is just abuse. One person that we know who did drugs (all types) doesn't know what happened to her child durning those times. Now that girl is dealling with the stress. Why should a child have to play adult when the parents can't grow up! I think that way with drinking too. When you become a parent, Grow UP!

If in ANY WAY, can harm the child but air, neglect, physical, that child should be taken away. That is just abuse. One person that we know who did drugs (all types) doesn't know what happened to her child durning those times. Now that girl is dealling with the stress. Why should a child have to play adult when the parents can't grow up! I think that way with drinking too. When you become a parent, Grow UP!

i agree with this. anytime you are unable to fully care for your child then you should have action taken against you.

I grew up with a mom who did pot everyday of my life. I don't believe I should have been taken away.

If she was doing other things, or putting me in harms way, I would say yes. But I don't believe pot is a huge problem.

If in ANY WAY, can harm the child but air, neglect, physical, that child should be taken away. That is just abuse. One person that we know who did drugs (all types) doesn't know what happened to her child durning those times. Now that girl is dealling with the stress. Why should a child have to play adult when the parents can't grow up! I think that way with drinking too. When you become a parent, Grow UP!

:agree

i agree with this. anytime you are unable to fully care for your child then you should have action taken against you.

I'm going to read into this statement.......

Husband is deployed......wife/mother that is majorly depressed?? They tend to the 'basic' needs, but no more.

What about a parent that has an injury and is on heavy pain medication?

A Parent that drinks - are they to have their children taken away as well?

I'm going to read into this statement.......

Husband is deployed......wife/mother that is majorly depressed?? They tend to the 'basic' needs, but no more.

What about a parent that has an injury and is on heavy pain medication?

A Parent that drinks - are they to have their children taken away as well?

if you cannot care for your child because you are so f*cked up on pain meds or alcohol you need to have action taken against you whether that is have someone court ordered to stay with you so your kid can get adequate care or have them taken away. if you are abusing pain meds to the point that you can't drive because you are so drowsy or are unaware of your surroundings yes you absolutely should have someone ordered to stay with you to make sure your kids are okay. in my eyes 1 beer or 1 glass of wine doesn't fuck you up enough to be so impaired that you couldn't take care of your kids. however i am also a firm believer in having someone else there with me in case something does happen hence the rule my hubby and i have--if one of us drinks the other does not just in case.

if you cannot care for your child because you are so f*cked up on pain meds or alcohol you need to have action taken against you whether that is have someone court ordered to stay with you so your kid can get adequate care or have them taken away. if you are abusing pain meds to the point that you can't drive because you are so drowsy or are unaware of your surroundings yes you absolutely should have someone ordered to stay with you to make sure your kids are okay. in my eyes 1 beer or 1 glass of wine doesn't fuck you up enough to be so impaired that you couldn't take care of your kids. however i am also a firm believer in having someone else there with me in case something does happen hence the rule my hubby and i have--if one of us drinks the other does not just in case.

Relax....

Both my parents and my older sister smoked pot for most of my life, but did so at the end of the day to wind down. I've tried it twice, and I have to say it's tastes horrible. But it has never affected my life negatively. I prefer when my parents smoke pot to when they smoke cigarettes.

My husband, however, grew up in a heavily drug ridden household, always moving house to house, town to town, barely went to school, barely had food in the house and always came home to a dirty house full of passed out strangers, and he is definitely feeling the effects of that now.

In my opinion, it depends on the "drug". Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous.

Relax....

you asked questions so i was clarifying. why do i need to relax?

you asked questions so i was clarifying. why do i need to relax?

Because you seem to be getting heated.....throwing the F-bomb and such.

Just trying to throw some other possible scenerios to the debate.

i guess i could've said smashed or intoxicated etc etc. sorry.

Back to the original question......You stated - Used Illegal substances, NOT abused Illegal Subtances....

I have another scenerio for THAT question....

I hurt my back....can't get to the doctor because there are no appts available today. My husband had surgery a few months back and has some pain pills left....should my kids be taken away because I took pain medication that wasn't perscribed to me?

Technically it is an illegal substance.......

I don't think that should be limited to illegal substances. If you are too impaired *on a regular basis* to take care of your children, then yes, I do think that CPS should step in. DH and I like to have a couple drinks sometimes on the weekends (never anything more than that, not that I have or would but both of us work in jobs that do random drug tests out the wazoo, just not worth the trouble or effort to smoke some pot or whatever) but we picked the "designated" if Lydia is with us, meaning, one parent stays sober. If we both want to drink, Lydia goes to the inlaws and we sleep over at their house.

I don't think it's worth a child's welfare to get a buzz or whatever. And I come from a family with alcoholic parents. Thank God I had older siblings to step up to the plate because God knows I had plenty of times I needed or wanted my parents for something and they were too smashed to do anything.

if you cannot care for your child because you are so f*cked up on pain meds or alcohol you need to have action taken against you whether that is have someone court ordered to stay with you so your kid can get adequate care or have them taken away. if you are abusing pain meds to the point that you can't drive because you are so drowsy or are unaware of your surroundings yes you absolutely should have someone ordered to stay with you to make sure your kids are okay. in my eyes 1 beer or 1 glass of wine doesn't fuck you up enough to be so impaired that you couldn't take care of your kids. however i am also a firm believer in having someone else there with me in case something does happen hence the rule my hubby and i have--if one of us drinks the other does not just in case.

I agree with everything but the F word. Sorry....

I respect someone who has a sober person in the house when it comes with children. They are so innocent and shouldn't be brought into something they can't defend themselves.

As for perscription drugs, If it messes you up also, then is goes from "legal" to "illigal." If it is not perscribed to you, then it becomes "illigal" and possibly harmful. We flush those types of meds when it is over for safty reasons.

i say yes to both, they are illeagle and if your kid found and/ or ingested them you could kill them. I think it is a stupid decision.

hm my major is in social work and i worked in a preschool where CPS was constantly being called (low income preschool in whats been known as the "drug county") and im really opinionated sooooooo ill keep my opinion to myself:) but mostly i agree with harrisonsdream:)

I agree. I have my psych dregree with specialization in social work. Some of the places that children can be placed are way worse than a house where a mom or dad is smoking pot every now and then. There are many levels. Basically, if any child is in harms way and life is threatened by actions parents are taking (whether the parent is partaking in drugs or not) the child should be removed.

Workign hand in hand with CPS workers, though, they have bigger issues and problems to tackle and children to save than those who have a pot head mom or dad.

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR USING THE F BOMB.

i was in no way yelling i just wanted to make sure no one missed this

I WANT TO APOLOGIZE FOR USING THE F BOMB.

i was in no way yelling i just wanted to make sure no one missed this
No apology necessary - I just didn't want you to think I was challenging you in a negative way.... I know you can't 'read' tone, I just took you throwing that out there as being defensive...and angry. No need to be angry about a debate. :)

i wasn't trying to be angry at all

i use to smoke a lot of weed before i had children. i quit as soon as i found out i was pregnant cause i knew i wasnt fully alert when i was stoned. imo you need to be fully alert to raise children. i dont think i could do a good job parenting if i were high.
also i was raised by drug addicts, so i have no respect for those who raise their children while on drugs. if i worked for cps, i would yank a child out of the home in heart beat if drugs were found(even if its just pot).

YES! poor decision making while under the influence could put the child in danger!!

i think if your child is being put in harms way because you are driving under the influence or unable to take care of them then they absolutely should be taken away.

:yes

Children should never be exposed to that, IMO. I knew a girl who used to smoke pot with her kids home. Can we say contact high?

I think it depends on the childs age and the care the child is receiving. I think in some cases the child would better off at home with mom or dad then forced into the system.

ETA I feel this way if the parents are only smoking pot. I think other drugs would just be to dangerous to have a child around at all

ITA

YES, any controlled substance means the child/children are being neglected. If you are high/drunk/passed out your child is not being protected by you!

Case by case basis only.