EXPERTS SAY MOM GIVING DRUGS TO CHILD 'UNCOMMON'

The news that a woman was arrested for allowing her 9-year-old to smoke
crack cocaine alarmed local child psychologists, drug counselors and police
officials on Saturday.

Lisa Bailey, 30, of Jackson, is facing felony charges of aggravated child
abuse and is being held at the Madison County Criminal Justice Complex
under a $50,000 bond. Bailey - a mother of two - could receive up to a
20-year sentence if convicted.

Police arrested Bailey Thursday after her 9-year-old daughter told her baby
sitter that she smoked crack with her mother.

On Saturday, counselors said that Bailey's daughter could have been crying
out for help when she told her baby sitter about the alleged incident.

"Even at a young age and even if they aren't quite certain, children have a
feeling about things that they are uncomfortable with," said Sean Jones, a
children and youth counselor at Pathways. "They will find a way to let
someone know about it."

Jones said that drug use between a parent and child does not usually occur
at such a young age.

"There are cases where older teens have used with their parents and parents
using in front of their children - but this situation is uncommon," Jones said.

Sgt. Tom Rudder, of Metro Narcotics, said that when he heard of Bailey's
arrest he was appalled.

"I just could not understand why, as a parent, you would want to expose
your child to something like that," Rudder said.

A child psychologist for the Madison County Schools, Helene Holcomb said
behaviors like drug usage have a strong effect on a child.

"The home is the primary influence in a child's life," Holcomb said. "But
when we know that a child is around drug use, we try to teach team that
there are other things in life that are better for them."