What a remarkable story. Born addicted to heroin, this high school sophomore wrote an essay "There Ought to Be a Law" to randomly drug test pregnant women on welfare. He is introducing it to the CA legislature this week.

What do you think about his idea?

cj/

The Cost Of Addiction: R.J's Story, One Teenage Boy Was Born Addicted To Heroin; Now He's Out To Help Addicts With A Law - CBS News

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

I can be randomly drug tested at my job, pregnant or not, and that was part of the agreement when I took the position. I don't see how this is any more extreme.

On one hand, "every" pregnant woman would need to be randomly tested.
On the other hand, we know who would have to foot the bill on this and it would be taxpayers. And in theory, it's probably not feasible.

So, not sure where else to go with further thoughts on the above.

REGARDING What R.J. is proposing:

• All welfare recipients would be randomly tested for drugs.
  My thoughts on this, is it is very discriminating. NOT all drug addicted babies are born to welfare recipients. There are tons of folks who receive medical assistance (in our state falls under welfare) that are not drug users. And simutaneously, there are tons of folks that are drug users who are not on welfare. So, in my opinion, this may help some of the problem, but not all of it. To me, you would need to direct focus at the common thread, which is PREGNANT women, and not just pregnant women on welfare. However, in reality, I think that the testing of 'all' pregnant women may cross a line. >I have no proof or example of that, I just don't know what to make of that yet. But that's just my opinion.
  
  
• If they test positive, they'd be offered help.
  Offering is great. But more intensive guidelines need to be in place. As most folks know, there is help out there for just about any situation, the problem is knowing where it is and how to get it effectively.
  
  
• If they refuse to enter rehab, they would loose their benefits.
  At this point, I don't think this would help. Drug/Alcohol addicted people generally wouldn't care. And if they do, then what? Who will really suffer the consequences here? The baby. Granted, getting prenatal care and still doing drugs probably cancels the 'care' out, but on the other hand, prenatal care would at least allow for monitoring the progress of the babies development and see any potential risks.

I don't have all the answers. Shoot, I don't have any answers. But I personally don't think the law is fair or will work as presented. (And I don't think it is fair to a child to have an addiction placed on them either) BUT, I do think if this law presented gets even one person's attention, then perhaps there will be hope for future children. Like I said, please don't flame me, this was just my opinion. I really hope that something beneficial comes from it. Children deserve a healthy start at life.