KIDS WHO DIE TO SUPPORT MUM AND DAD'S HABIT

At least 20 babies and children of drug-using parents have died in NSW
through abuse and neglect in the past two years, say child protection
workers.

And many other children have suffered emotional deprivation and physical
neglect because of their parents' addiction.

According to coroner's records, the infants have died as a result of a
drug-dependent parent having given them methadone to "quieten" them, from
accidental smothering, and from physical abuse and neglect.

The trend is so worrying that the NSW Child Death Review Team, which advises
the State Government on trends in child deaths, is conducting a special
investigation and its report will be tabled in Parliament later this year.

Concerns relate to early hospital discharge of drug-affected newborns into
the care of drug-using parents, and insufficient awareness among drug
workers and general practitioners of child protection issues.

The director of Child and Family Services at the Department of Community
Services, Ms Carol Peltola, said: "As drug use has spread, the numbers of
parents we see with drug problems has increased."

Serious neglect of infants and toddlers is the most common problem that
workers encounter. But at least two babies have died in the past two years
after having been given their parents' methadone. The coroner has referred
one case to the Director of Public Prosecutions for possible criminal
charges.

At least one other child - taken to the New Children's Hospital at
Westmead - has been resuscitated after being given methadone.

Children are the overlooked victims of Australia's massive drug problems,
workers said.

Ms Penny Kay, team manager of the Benevolent Society's central Sydney
home-visiting service, said such parents lovedtheir children and wanted the
best for them. "But some have difficulty putting their children's needs
ahead of their drug needs," she said.

Many drug workers focused on the adult user's needs and were afraid they
might leave treatment if questioned about their children.

"Children often seem to be largely invisible in adult-focused services," Dr
Judy Cashmore, deputy convener of the review team, told the NSW Drug Summit
earlier this year.

And a senior clinical psychologist at a leading hospital said: "I can't
think of a methadone clinic which has ever made a [child protection]
notification. Yet a lot of women going there must have children at risk."

Specialists emphasise that drug-dependent parents are not necessarily bad
parents. "There are clients who do extremely well on methadone and are very
good parents," said Mr Gary Thornell, clinical systems co-ordinator at the
Langton Centre, an addiction treatment service in Surry Hills. "And
occasional heroin users can pay the mortgage and raise the kids."

But heroin users caught up in the drug and criminal sub-culture, and
multiple drug users, including some on methadone, could put their children
at risk.

Ms Kay recalled finding a two-year-old in a dark and filthy flat, with an
overflowing toilet and syringes on the floor. His heroin-affected and
emotionally disturbed mother was incapable of responding to him and his
amphetamine-affected father was barely managing.

"The boy was dirty, smelly but quite happy," she said. "However, we could
not be confident about the level of basic care in a situation like that, as
well as the effect on his emotional and social development."

When the child was removed by DOCS, the father was distraught but in the two
years since has remained a drug user.

Mr Thornell said it was not uncommon for adults to hide from drug and
alcohol workers the fact they were parents, or pregnant, through fear their
children might be taken away.

A year ago, the Langton Clinic hired its first child protection worker, and
instituted a policy of having two workers assigned to a parent-user, one to
advocate for the parent, the other for the child.

The Child Death Review Committee's report is expected to make strong
recommendations about hospital and medical practice, and the need for more
child-focused drug and alcohol services.