List of states that drug test newborns 2019. Feb 20, 2020 · Across the U.
List of states that drug test newborns 2019. In this article, you’ll discover which states are currently conducting these tests and what the implications are for families. This testing disproportionately targets Black women and mothers. Feb 14, 2020 · mandate testing of infants with suspected prenatal substance exposure or pregnant women with suspected substance use ("testing"). Today USDTL announced that they are Sep 27, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. 9%) and Jun 17, 2019 · New parents want to know early on if their baby has a serious health problem. A drug test is not a parenting test; a positive drug test says nothing about a parent’s capacity to parent their child or a parent’s love for their This study guide aims to deepen your understanding of state laws and policies that establish legal consequences for women who use substances during pregnancy. Apr 2, 2025 · In 2020, Colorado lawmakers removed positive drug tests at birth from the list of reasons for hospitals to automatically report a family to child welfare authorities. Now the entire The drug is often abused by injecting, snorting / sniffing, oral tablets/pills or removing the gel on fentanyl patches and then injecting or ingesting. The legislative definition of “substances” varies among states. With this amendment, lawmakers conditioned a state's receipt of federal CAPTA funds on the adoption of state policy requiring healthcare providers who deliver or care for infants to report newborn infants who test positive for illicit drugs to child protective Over the past decade, methods to test for in utero drug exposure using umbilical cord have been developed. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients' treatment and recovery from substance use disorder Sep 19, 2024 · A woman holds a 2-1/2 week-old baby in Stamford, Conn. Objectives Compare and contrast specimen types used to detect drug-exposed newborns. In Minnesota, disorders are added to this panel by the Commissioner of Health with advice and recommendations from Minnesota's Advisory Committee on Heritable and Congenital Disorders. Clinical Drug Testing of Pregnant People and Newborns Pregnant and postpartum people and their newborn babies are typically drug tested in medical settings without their knowledge or explicit, informed consent. Major medical and public health associations strongly oppose this practice. 3 At UNC, all positive urine/meconium drug screening results (that are not otherwise explained by prescribed maternal medications) are forwarded to the Department of Social Services (DSS) of the county Jun 9, 2025 · More States Consider Curbing Drug Testing at Childbirth Widespread testing of pregnant patients often leads to incorrect results—and sweeping harms to mothers, babies, and families. Hospitals take a risk-based approach to testing infants, and medical staff will only drug test babies of mothers who are suspected of substance abuse or have a history of substance abuse. Nov 3, 2023 · Each state is different for newborn drug testing laws. The presence of substances in the cord tissue has been proposed to be indicative of in utero substance exposure up to 20 weeks before birth, a longer historical measure than is possible by urinalysis. This will allow for newborn drug testing in cases where risk factors for maternal substance abuse are only recognized days after birth. Jan 3, 2025 · With the rise of substance use issues, some states have implemented drug testing for babies at birth, sparking debates about privacy and parental rights. At Ambrosia, we offer addiction treatment for new mothers who may be struggling. , 20 states are now screening newborns for Pompe, the most recent neuromuscular disease added to a list of serious genetic disorders for which infants can be tested shortly after birth, advocacy officers at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) said. (John Moore/Getty Images) azcentral. Testing newborns is done using samples from urine, meconium, blood, hair, umbilical cord Sep 18, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Hospitals typically test for drugs such as opioids, cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines. alcohol and tobacco), prescribed substances (e. 109B (Rosenthal)/S. When a medical condition is found early, it can often be treated. The bill prevents any health care worker from performing a drug or alcohol test or screen on a pregnant person unless the person gives written and verbal consent to the test and the test is Jun 24, 2025 · Provides the text of state laws requiring screening of pregnant women for syphilis. Aug 18, 2025 · What States Drug Test Babies at Birth? Navigate the sensitive topic of newborn drug testing. Under federal law, medical professionals must notify child protective agencies when an infant has been affected by the […] The testing mechanism used by most larger hospitals is the testing of the newborn’s umbilical cord tissue. Describe how unexpected newborn drug testing results should be investigated. 860 (Rosenthal)/S. Finding and treating these disorders early The testing mechanism used by most larger hospitals is the testing of the newborn’s umbilical cord tissue. About the Lab The Texas Newborn Screening (NBS) Laboratory tests nearly 800,000 specimens each year. Among our primary focus areas is reproductive justice and protecting women and Understanding CAPTA and State Obligations This fact sheet addresses common misconceptions about what states are required to do to comply with the federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), with regard to newborn infants’ prenatal drug exposure. 3 Currently, 19 states and the District of Columbia have regulations for reporting infants exposed to drugs. Early diagnosis and treatment can make the difference between a child leading a relatively normal life or having more significant developmental delays, long-term health care needs, or even death. 845 (Salazar) Relates to prohibiting drug or alcohol testing and screening of pregnant or postpartum individuals and newborns Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, is the nation’s first and longest-serving legal advocacy organization for women. In some places, mothers may lose their baby or be arrested — possibly even if the drug was prescribed by a doctor. A charity-care newborn is a patient who is not insured or otherwise is unable to pay and is not eligible for coverage of newborn screening Select Year: The 2025 Florida Statutes SUPPORT Pregnant people in New York State are often subjected to medically unnecessary drug and alcohol testing by their health care providers without their knowledge or consent. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients who are in recovery Recommendations and Conclusions The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists makes the following recommendations and conclusions: Newborn screening is a mandatory state-based public health program that provides all newborns in the United States with testing and necessary follow-up health care for a variety of medical con-ditions. About two in five newborn drug tests were positive only for THC, with Black newborns more likely to have a positive test than white newborns. Feb 6, 2010 · There are a variety of tests that each state requires by law to be conducted shortly after birth. Laws on Jul 21, 2025 · When you ask about which states routinely drug test babies at birth, it’s a really important question, but the answer isn’t as straightforward as a simple "yes" or "no" list for each state. The Department of State Health Services provides newborn screening specimen collection kits for the blood spot-based testing at no cost to providers for patients covered by Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and for charity-care newborns. State List of HHS Certified Laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITF) (25 UNITED STATES LABS and 1 CANADIAN LAB and 1 IITF) Updated: September 2019 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Mar 10, 2025 · Key points People with COVID-19 have a wide range of symptoms ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. mandatory laws lay out requirements for any employer in that state who conducts testing. A drug test is not a parenting test; a positive drug test says nothing about a parent’s capacity to parent their child or a parent’s love for their The testing mechanism used by most larger hospitals is the testing of the newborn’s umbilical cord tissue. 1 Positive toxicology results are too often reported to government officials and used to support criminal and civil child Sep 30, 2024 · Sep. Both of Emily's parents (despite the death of their child . WebDrug Testing: Notice and Procedural Rights for Employees. March 2019 Pregnant and postpartum women and their newborn babies are typically drug tested in medical settings without their knowledge or explicit, informed consent. It also discusses NMS Labs’ product offering details for umbilical cord and meconium toxicology testing. The policy wheels show the evolution from 2000 to 2015 of state policy environments related to substance use in pregnancy. Under federal law, medical professionals must notify child protective agencies when an infant has been affected by the […] Sep 28, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. This monograph discusses these 3 methods for testing if an infant has been exposed to drugs in utero and the advantages of testing. pain medication including Apr 2, 2025 · A newborn drug test “rarely adds any information that you didn’t already know,” he said. Historically and present-day, women from urban areas with low incomes who are not White are disproportionately The California Department of Public Health is dedicated to optimizing the health and well-being of Californians Sep 19, 2024 · A woman holds a 2-1/2 week-old baby in Stamford, Conn. The tests are done with a urine sample, blood sample, or meconium sample (a newborn’s first bowel movement). Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support Find information about newborn screening in your state, including health conditions screened for and how to contact your state’s newborn screening program. (USDTL), has been quietly making a huge impact on the lives of some of the most vulnerable Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients, newborns exposed to substances of abuse during gestation. Cords will be held refrigerated for 7 days, allowing for drug testing orders to be made within this time window. S. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. Overall, it is estimated that 20% of pregnant women use illicit drugs during pregnancy. The Newborn Screening Program effectively identifies babies with certain disorders and is required for all newborns born in New York State unless the parents confirm, in writing, that they have a religious objection. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients who are in recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. Do hospitals drug test newborns? All newborns are given a toxicology screen as part of a routine newborn physical assessment, which shows exposure to drugs, alcohol and MAT medications. In Minnesota and North Dakota, a test is required if drug-related complications occur at birth. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients who are in recovery The Newborn Screening Program’s goal is to help affected babies live as long and normal of a life as possible. [86] May 13, 2024 · Positive newborn drug tests for THC increased across all racial and ethnic groups after its legalization, the study suggests, up from 50% to 69%. Under federal law, medical professionals must notify child protective agencies when an infant has Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. List challenges associated with comparing cutoffs for meconium and umbilical cord drug tests. For 5. Department of Justice has explained, “A positive test result The most common specimen types used in newborn drug testing are meconium and umbilical cord tissue. Sep 18, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. Memorandum in Support of A. The guide highlights state by state policies related to substance use during pregnancy and offers talking points for communicating the implications of such laws and policies to program staff, partners, policy makers, and stakeholders. States have instituted a range of strategies to monitor Plans of Safe Care at the systems and case level. The newborn screening panel refers to the list of disorders that newborns are screened for shortly after birth. . Texas law (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 33) requires these laboratory tests to help find infants who may have one or more of the disorders or medical conditions. WORKPLACE DRUG AND ALCOHOL STATE-BY-STATE LEGAL STATUS GUIDE this document provides an overview of the status and procedural requirements for drug and alcohol testing from state to state. Clinical drug testing Sep 20, 2024 · This story originally appeared in at Stateline. Key Points Question Do newborn drug testing rates and results differ by birthing parent race and ethnicity at a Midwestern US academic medical center, and did this change after state recreational cannabis legalization? Findings In a cohort study of 26 366 births from 2014 to 2020, clinicians were more likely to order drug tests for Black newborns (7. This will likely not take additional time for urine, but may take up to 4 additional days for meconium. voluntary laws provide requirements only for an employer who Sep 18, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. Across the country, hundreds of pregnant women and new mothers have been accused of child abuse or other crimes when they or their newborns tested positive for controlled substances. Sep 19, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. Indeed, testing deters some pregnant people from seeking vital pre- and perinatal medical care;1 and for good reason: a positive toxicology Aug 1, 2019 · OBJECTIVES:. The federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) authorizes funding for state grants when a state has “policies and procedures” ensuring that health care providers refer infants that are identified as affected by substance abuse, experience withdrawal symptoms or have Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) in order for a multidisciplinary team of professionals to develop a In the United States, the approach toward drug testing newborns at birth varies significantly from state to state. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Jun 15, 2024 · Most newborn screening tests yield normal results, but if not, your baby will get a more personalized diagnostic test. Most of the testing is for genetic disorders, but can include screening for intrauterine drug exposure if maternal drug use is suspected. Specimens testing positive for one or more drugs are reflexed to highly sensitive and specific mass spectrometry technology for confirmation. Under federal law, medical professionals must notify child protective agencies when an infant has been affected by the mother’s substance Des Plaines, IL. Over the last few decades, United States Drug Testing Laboratories, Inc. Hospitals first began routinely drug testing mothers in labor during the 1980s crack cocaine epidemic. health care system began widespread perinatal drug testing. These Guidelines support the state law requirement that a health care professional, who reasonably believes that a newborn infant may be affected by the presence of alcohol or a drug, to immediately report this information, or cause a report to be made, to Child Protective Services. Relates to prohibiting drug or alcohol testing and screening of pregnant or postpartum individuals and newborns unless the individual consents and it is within the scope of medical care, or the testing or screening is necessary for a medical emergency. And in Maryland, the list of rare health conditions that newborns are screened for just got longer. Several types of law govern drug and alcohol testing. Many states and local child welfare agencies have assumed that CAPTA – a federal funding provision – requires them to report all Memorandum in Support of A. (John Moore | Getty Images) Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant Review this guide to deepen your understanding of state laws and policies that establish legal consequences for women who use substances during pregnancy. Sep 21, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. Among our primary focus areas is reproductive justice and protecting women Jun 9, 2025 · From New York to Arizona, More States Consider Curbing Drug Testing at Childbirth Some bills followed an investigation by The Marshall Project and Reveal that exposed the harms of widespread drug testing of pregnant patients. Positive toxicology results are too often reported to government officials and used to support criminal and civil child abuse or neglect prosecutions. Different states have different laws regarding the use of Oct 3, 2024 · New Jersey’s lawsuit points to longstanding, broader national questions about drug testing for mothers and newborn children as well as concerns about New Jersey’s requirement that all such positive test results be reported to child welfare authorities. While it can depend on the county, Texas is generally much harsher with these laws than other states. METHODS:. Senate Bill 4821, pending in New York State, prohibits drug and alcohol testing of pregnant and perinatal people and newborns without informed consent. , October 1, 2019—Test Helps Identify Newborns Exposed to Fentanyl Abuse. Dec 15, 2021 · Laws on drug testing mothers and their newborns vary; however, the stakes are high if the test is positive. 18—Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients' treatment and recovery from substance use Sep 18, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. g. The popularity of fentanyl within drug addicted communities derive from the addictive effects the drug produces —relaxation, euphoria, pain relief, and sedation. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients who are in recovery Collection of cord blood gases does not impact the detection of drugs in umbilical cord tissue. The following four states require testing if drug use during pregnancy is suspected (risk-based testing): Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Georgia Laws on Workplace Drug Testing exposure to chronic or severe use of alcohol or the unlawful use of any controlled substance, as such term is defined in Code Section 16-13-21, which results in: (A) Symptoms of withdrawal in a newborn Clinical Drug Testing of Pregnant Women and Newborns April 17th, 2019 Pregnancy and Drug and Alcohol Use April 17, 2019 Pregnant and postpartum women and their newborn babies are typically drug tested in medical settings without their knowledge or explicit, informed consent. May 31, 2023 · Yes, some hospitals do drug test newborns, as part of an effort to detect any potential drug exposure that could cause health problems for the baby. As a healthcare system, it can be difficult to navigate situations involving newborns with prenatal drug and alcohol exposure. But many hospitals continued to test pregnant patients and newborns, prompting Gold to lead the effort to release guidance in 2023 that encourages hospitals in the state to test only when medically necessary. Due to the sensitivity of the topic, you need newborn drug tests that are innovative, reported quickly and accurately, which includes confirmation testing on all positives. 1953. Explore varying state approaches, testing protocols, legal frameworks, and outcomes for families. The complexities of drug testing babies stem from a mix of legal, ethical, and health-related considerations. Sep 19, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. In contrast to most other recreational drugs, the dramatic psychotic state induced by use of synthetic cannabinoids has been reported, in multiple cases, to persist for several weeks, and in one case for seven months, after complete cessation of drug use. John Moore/Getty Images Sep 24, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. 320B (Salazar) Relates to prohibiting drug or alcohol testing and screening of pregnant or postpartum individuals and newborns Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, is the nation’s first and longest-serving legal advocacy organization for women. Tennessee Code ARUP’s neonatal drug testing in meconium is a qualitative immunoassay screen for nine drug classes. Under federal law, medical professionals must notify child protective agencies when an infant has been affected by the mother’s substance Sep 24, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. com is the digital home of The Arizona Republic newspaper, with breaking news, sports, politics, things to do, travel and opinions. Mar 8, 2023 · Key Points Question Do newborn drug testing rates and results differ by birthing parent race and ethnicity at a Midwestern US academic medical center, and did this change after state recreational cannabis legalization? Findings In a cohort study of 26 366 births from 2014 to 2020, clinicians were more likely to order drug tests for Black newborns (7. presumptive positive qualitative screening test simply indicates the presence or absence of a specific drug class in the urine; it is followed by a confirmatory test using Perinatal drug testing became common during the mid-1980s with the emergence of the“crack baby ” panic and“The War on Drugs. Symptoms may start as mild, and some people will progress to more severe symptoms. Non-consensual drug testing of pregnant people, new parents2 and their newborns is a violation of individual bodily integrity, undermines maternal-fetal health, and unnecessarily exposes new families to the risk of traumatic family separation. The new policies are beginning to upend an approach that has existed in the United States for decades. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients who are in recovery Sep 18, 2024 · This story originally appeared on Stateline. Although child welfare agencies often take the lead, several states use other systems to monitor Plans of Safe Care, particularly for families without open child welfare cases. ”6 In response to gov-ernment and media focus on substance-exposed new-borns, the U. Feb 20, 2020 · Across the U. DSHS Laboratory tests these specimens for more than 50 disorders or medical conditions. A subject of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment has his blood drawn, c. In 2003, Congress amended the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) by passing the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act. Our objective in this study was to determine the predictive value of an institutional risk-based newborn drug-testing tool for detecting maternal drug use during pregnancy. The Texas Newborn Screening Program is an essential public health program that includes: Laboratory bloodspot testing for more than 50 disorders Follow-up, case management, and outreach for infants with out-of-range test results Newborn Screening is required by law for any baby born in Texas (Health and Safety Code, Chapter 33) and identifies babies that may have a specific disorder or medical All newborns must participate in the program unless the parents object on religious grounds. The results are typically available within 48 georgia law on drug testing newborns 2020. 5 months, the umbilical cords of all newborns born at the study institution were collected and analyzed at a national reference laboratory. 9%) and Newborn screening is a public health program designed to screen infants shortly after birth for conditions that are treatable, but not clinically evident in the newborn period. Sep 19, 2024 · And only four states (Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin) mandate the drug testing of newborns in certain circumstances. Black birthing parents and their newborns disproportionately experience newborn drug testing for prenatal substance exposure by health care professionals (HCPs), which contributes to Child Protective Services (CPS) reporting, family separation, and Sep 24, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. Numerous experiments which were performed on human test subjects in the United States in the past are now considered to have been unethical, because they were performed without the knowledge or informed consent of the test subjects. 3%) compared with White newborns (1. Although meconium is traditionally preferred and has been used in a clinical setting for over two decades, umbilical cord tissue has been acknowledged as an effective sample type in recent years. Sep 18, 2024 · Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients' treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting. As the U. For the purposes of this study guide, “substances” refers to recreational substances (e. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients’ treatment and recovery from substance use disorder and combat racial disparities in testing and reporting If screen is POSITIVE for any individual drug in the urine or meconium specimen, confirmatory testing will be performed. [1] Sep 19, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. does florida hospital drug test newborns 2019; pasco county human services. In the context of usual clinical care, the decision to Non-consensual drug testing of pregnant people, new parents2 and their newborns is a violation of individual bodily integrity, undermines maternal-fetal health, and unnecessarily exposes new families to the risk of traumatic family separation. The chart below applies to the Georgia Voluntary Drug-Free Workplace Act. Sep 28, 2024 · A woman holds a newborn baby. A substance-exposed newborn means a newborn child who tests positive for substance(s) at birth, or the mother tests positive for substance(s) at the time of delivery or the newborn is identified by a medical practitioner as having been prenatally exposed to substance(s). Feb 28, 2024 · Pregnant and postpartum people and their newborn babies are typically drug tested in medical settings without their knowledge or explicit, informed consent. Jun 17, 2023 · The lists of diseases for which newborns are tested vary by state. Some states and hospital systems have updated their policies on drug testing for pregnant women and newborns, aiming to better support patients who are in recovery Aug 25, 2025 · Texas does not drug test infants without reason Typically, drug tests aren’t run unless there’s probable cause. Parents of kids with Krabbe disease, which requires early intervention, are pushing to change state and federal policies. lhg k4 1hv1bl 0tlye u4o exyb kyts9 qr gdn x9sbt