# 52

Florida mother avoids death from overdose, however, 6 year-old son finds her unconscious in women's bathroom stall at a Wendy's in Florida and police are summoned.  Mother arrested for child neglect.

In this case, the below article is just another repeat of so many we have read this year in which parents/grandparents subordinate the care of their juvenile loved ones to the substance they seek.

In a society which recognizes three categories of persons: adult, juvenile, incompetent, we may need to take a lesson from the supporters of people who have what the DSM-5 refers to as a comorbid psychiatric disorder or substance use disorder.  These supporters attempt to make the case that the adults who have the disorder are not able to control the priorities of their lives which have been diverted to pursuing their next fix.  They advocate for these adults while attempting to maintain that they be permitted to remain as adults in society.

It may be time to consider that the substance use disorder renders such adults as incompetents and courts may need to appoint guardians to such adults who cannot perform basic parental functions due to their disorder.

Currently, society lets near-death substance abusers find relief with Narcan and such abusers frequently resume their addictive behavior following revival.  In the case of the neglect of children by adults who overdose, the adult may be charged criminally and face those consequences, but - currently - they resume their status in society as adults...competent adults.

The defense submitted by substance use disorder adult' supporterss is so persuasive that "the addicts cannot control themselves" that their argument buttresses a view that such adults are helpless and may need lifetime guardianship.  The adult reverts, in a sense, to a status of juvenile in need of full-time care.  We must ask ourselves how, as a society, we can knowingly return to society an adult whose condition has been diagnosed as being incapable to resist the substance to which they are addicted.  When adults are no longer capable of making adult decisions, they need caretakers.

http://wjla.com/news/nation-world/boy-calls-911-after-mom-passes-out-at-wendys-with-syringes-in-arms