Most instant drug tests are notorious for picking up false positives from common medications like antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, and analgesics. Poppy seeds can give a “true” positive.
Tag: Elizabeth Brico
Florida Versus Evidence: How I Lost My Children Because of Past Drug Use
When my first slew of drug tests returned negative, the opposition began slinging whatever they could think of in my direction, hoping something would stick.
The Problem with "Addicted Babies"
The “addicted baby” issue is not simply linguistic. You’re not just contributing to stigma when you use this term, you’re misrepresenting medical facts. “She was born addicted, but without methadone, she may never have been born at all.” That was the last sentence of my first published article with a major media outlet, Vox. The… Continue reading The Problem with "Addicted Babies"
The Empty Chair Campaign Highlights Loss and Sorrow Caused by the Drug War
The families of people incarcerated, distanced, or deceased because of the drug war live year-round with the unique suffering of loving someone whose pain you do not have the power to heal. During the holidays, that loss rises to the surface. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Day, or something else this winter,… Continue reading The Empty Chair Campaign Highlights Loss and Sorrow Caused by the Drug War
Promising New Treatments for Opioid-Dependent Babies
Compassionate care for the mothers was crucial to positive outcomes for opioid-dependent babies. I gave birth to my daughter in late January of 2014. It was the kind of birth you see in the movies—the contractions started hard and grew closer together within moments. By the time I realized I was in labor, I was… Continue reading Promising New Treatments for Opioid-Dependent Babies
An Open Letter to Addiction Treatment Providers
There’s something wrong with addiction patients feeling the need to ask for medical advice from their communities because they don’t trust their providers. Maybe you’re a psychiatrist. Maybe you’re a dosing nurse at a methadone clinic. Maybe you’re an inpatient counselor. Maybe you work in an emergency department, or you’re an OBGYN; maybe you don’t… Continue reading An Open Letter to Addiction Treatment Providers
Should You Breastfeed Your Baby If You're on Methadone?
My daughter was born with neonatal abstinence syndrome but I was not allowed to nurse or have her in the room with me; the hospital staff said the methadone in my breast milk could be dangerous. They were wrong. Earlier this summer several news outlets reported on the death of an 11-week-old infant in Philadelphia… Continue reading Should You Breastfeed Your Baby If You're on Methadone?
PTSD Service Dogs Are Saving Lives
“If I could pin a medal on Aura, I would,” Evans asserts. “I feel safe in my own world since I’ve had Aura. She’s life saving.” United States Army Command Sergeant Major Gretchen Evans’ life changed forever in 2006. This was her ninth combat tour since joining the Army in 1979. It was early spring,… Continue reading PTSD Service Dogs Are Saving Lives
Using Marijuana to Treat Opioid Addiction
When I’m on marijuana, the thought of injecting toxic drugs into my body seems totally unhealthy and unappealing. If you believe that medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) is wrong because it’s “just substituting one drug for another,” then you’re really not going to like this article. It’s not about one of the… Continue reading Using Marijuana to Treat Opioid Addiction