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About Peter L.
Expertise
I am available to answer any questions about substance use, abuse, and dependence. I can also offer perspective on treatment options and how to motivate someone to get help. I have over 25 years of experience as a substance abuse treatment professional, working with adolescents and adults in a variety of treatment settings. I feel I can answer just about any question in this topic area but can also access reference sources, or direct you to these for additional information gathering or education on your own.

Experience
I am a professional addictions counselor working in a very highly respected treatment center, as well as having a private practice in two states.

Education/Credentials
Masters Degree in Behavioral Science Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire. Also an Internationally Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor

You are here: Experts > Teens > Health for Teens > Addiction to Drugs > false positive in child

Addiction to Drugs - false positive in child

Expert: Peter L. - 10/29/2009

Question
hi peter, I would like some help,my two and a half year old when taken to hospital because she was I'll tested positive in her urine for amphetamines. I never use anything like that, I do smoke cannabis in the evenings but nothing else not even alcohol! I was arrested and released pending investigations,I willingly gave my hair sample and my daughters for analysis, the only thing which my daughter could of got hold of by accident was herbal sea kelp and iodine tablets which were on my kitchen window sill which my toddler can climb up using the kitchen stool. she is in voluntary care at the moment, awaiting the hair results coming from Belgium even though we live in the UK. does hair analysis show up over the counter tablets, and also iodine has a link to amphetimine I have researched,surely they can't keep my child as my parenting skills are assesed by social workers as near perfect,this has been a terrible accident and nothing more. any advice would be appreciated. Sarah

Answer
Hi Sarah,

Well, it's hard to see the marijuana smoking as the problem, because even if your daughter were to take in some second hand smoke the concentrations never are high enough to show up on a test (at least not here in the states). Is there any ADHD medication around that she may have ingested? Some ADHD medications will show up as amphetamines in urine screens. I suppose iodine can cross react and cause a positive for amphetamine, as you've researched, but I have no knowledge of that, unfortunately. Have you had the lab test the sample again? Often labs will hold urine samples for a while when there are positive results, in the event there needs to be more testing to confirm/deny the results. You could also request she be tested again. I'm sorry, but I don't know very much about hair analysis and what it can show. Naturally, you would never have given your child anything that would harm her, so the amphetamine in her urine can't really be evidence of any form of neglect, in my opinion. If they want to make a case about this, it seems they would have to go on a belief that you are abusing substances (particularly amphetamines) and somehow are leaving them around for your child to have access to them. Therefore, I don't see how they can build a case against you as an unfit mother with the evidence presented. Sounds like a tough situation, and I hope you can get it resolved without much more hassle. Social services may visit you unannounced anytime, and after the case is resolved, so I would think seriously about the marijuana use if you want to eliminate any further risk of them speculating that you are an unfit mother.

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