Drug abuse: 5 things I wish my family law clients knew

Dear Drug or Alcohol Abuser,
I’ve been a family law attorney for more than 20 years now and I have seen families ripped apart by alcohol and drug abuse. I’ve also witnessed the positive, reaffirming and heartwarming tales of parents reunited with children after a scary bout with addiction. The path of alcohol and drug use->abuse->addiction-> ruin is not a certain one. Clients have recovered. So whether drug abuse or alcohol abuse is the primary source of legal trouble or compounding it, there are five items I wish my family law clients knew about drug abuse and testing that can prevent a bad situation from becoming worse.

Substance Categories of Drug Abuse

Not all drugs are equal in the eyes of the court. Anyone who has watched a television crime drama has probably heard the phrases “Schedule 2 Narcotic” or “Controlled Substance.” This refers to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s CSA (Controlled Substances Act) which categorizes substances in five main divisions. “Substances are placed in their respective schedules based on whether they have a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, their relative abuse potential, and the likelihood of causing dependence when abused,” according to the DEA Diversions website.

• Category I is the most addictive and includes heroin, LSD, marijuana and “Ecstacy.”
• Category II substances have a high potential for abuse and dependency and include prescribed narcotics such as OxyContin, Percocet and morphine derivatives. This category also includes the stimulants, Adderall and Ritalin – usually prescribed to treat ADD or ADHD.
• Category III is the next step down and includes Tylenol 3, Didrex and anabolic steroids.
• Category IV have less potential for abuse but are still regulated. This schedule includes Valium, Xanax, and Ativan.
• Category V substances include, “cough preparations containing not more than 200 milligrams of codeine per 100 milliliters or per 100 grams (Robitussin AC®, Phenergan with Codeine®), and ezogabine.”

If drug abuse is impacting your family law matter, consult with experienced South Lyon Family Law Attorney Kathryn Wayne-Spindler who can advise you how the courts might regard an addiction depending on the category of the substance.

Follow the Prescribed Testing Protocol

Obviously, testing is an important part of the management and treatment of addiction. It also plays into family legal matters such as custody and divorce. In the case of custody, the court referee will want to see clean drug tests over a designated period of time before allowing supervised, unsupervised or overnight visitation time. The RESULTS program in Oakland County does a great deal of the testing in criminal cases. But other programs such as JAMS does too. The RESULTS program utilizes randomly-scheduled and monitored urine tests. “Court ordered clients must call the RESULTS Hotline daily to hear colors and letters assigned to test each day,” according to the Oakland County RESULTS page. The sheriffs receive weekly reports and daily alerts to positive tests. In Oakland County, the PBT is $4. Urine Drug tests are $15. Confirmation Drug Tests and Urine Alcohol Tests are $20. JAMS works the same way.

Tests Check for Multiple Drugs

“Urine drug samples are analyzed following either a 2-Panel Presumptive Screen (tests for the presence of Cocaine and Marijuana) or a 5-Panel Presumptive Screen (tests for the presence of Cocaine, Marijuana, Amphetamines, Benzodiazepines and Opiates),” according to the Oakland County Sheriff’s webpage.

It’s important for clients to be aware that these screenings check for more than one type of drug. In the past, people have started using a new drug in an effort to stop using another. Drug testing can show all drugs in the system.

Two types of Alcohol Testing

The courts want to know both that the individual is sober at the time of testing, but may also be looking for evidence of previous use. The PBT (or Preliminary Breath Test) is randomly-scheduled and shows whether the person currently has alcohol in his or her system.

The ETG measures Ethyl Glucuronide that, “has been shown to be a sensitive and specific marker for ethanol consumption and is detectable in urine for up to 80 hours after alcohol has been ingested.”

React to False Positives Quickly

There are countless myths about substances that produce false positives on both drug and alcohol tests. For instance, the Mythbusters – Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage – “confirmed” the myth that poppy seed bagels and bread can produce a false positive result for opiate drug testing. Check out the attached clip.

A more scientific analysis of this myth by NorChem Lab reveals the following, “Poppy seeds can cause a positive result depending on the cutoff used for a positive test. At the 2000-ng/ml cut-off level it would be extremely unlikely, given the amount of seeds that would need to be consumed, to get a positive result from consuming poppy seeds. In addition, the poppy seeds would need to be un-washed. Most commercial bakeries use washed poppy seeds. However, as many agencies use a lower 300-ng/ml cut-off, a positive opiate test due to poppy seeds is a possibility.”

Other substances rumored to have an impact on reliable testing include:

• Hand sanitizer
• NyQuil and other cough suppressants
• Deodorants and other beauty products containing alcohol or hemp seeds
• Bleaching or Dying Hair
• Diabetes drugs
• Synthetic Opiates
• Kissing a drug user
• Second-hand smoke

Although the Internet is rife with contradictory tales regarding each of these and many more, anyone on a drug-testing protocol would be wise to check labels and avoid questionable substances. If a false positive does occur, consult your attorney and perhaps a doctor quickly to try to document the source. Ask to be re-tested after having eliminated any questionable substance. Immediate response can help avoid a lengthy setback.

Unfortunately, alcohol and drug abuse are common in our society. And it can have very serious impacts on marriage and family relationships. But it does not have to be an absolute and final break in family ties. More so even than job loss or financial trouble, quite often, the prospect of losing a connection with family members can be the much-needed motivation to kick a drug abuse or alcohol habit. The courts are reasonable about giving recovering addicts a second-chance to salvage a parental relationship.

Consult with experienced South Lyon Family Law Attorney Kathryn Wayne-Spindler about how to rebuild from addiction. Contact the Milford, Michigan office at 248-676-1000. We handle cases throughout Southeastern Michigan including Oakland, Washtenaw, Wayne, Genesee and Livingston Counties.

Written and Posted by Christine Donlon Long, Communications Specialist for Kathryn Wayne-Spindler & Associates