Leanne Prien’s Meth-tainted Breast Milk
Back in 2002, Amy Leanne Prien woke up and found her 3-month old son dead. In 2003, she was convicted of second degree murder for breastfeeding her son AND smoking methamphetamine even if she was aware that this could damage her son.
Her case was appealed and was once again opened a couple of months ago. And yesterday, the judge declared it a mistrial. If she was convicted, she would have faced 15 years in prison.
The DA's office have until the 15th of July to decide whether they want to try the case again.
I just don't understand this! If she was so deep into drugs and couldn't give it up then, why oh why, does she need to breastfeed her son?!
[source: CNN]
June 26th, 2006 at 2:24 am
She wasn’t breastfeeding, they took a bottle from the baby’s bed and lost it later.
June 29th, 2006 at 5:13 pm
I’m not quite sure where to start responding to your post. I understand that as a responsible parent it’s hard to comprehend how a mother could breastfeed while using drugs, but it’s not so simple. Addiction is an illness. It’s not a switch that people can switch on and off. So, that’s the main reason why Ms. Prien breast fed while using drugs. Beyond that, there is no peer-reviewed scientific or medical evidence that methamphetamine in breast milk causes infant harm or death. NONE. And there is no definitive evidence in Ms. Prien’s case that methamphetamine was even the cause of her son’s death. Women who use drugs can be good mothers. We’ve just got to stop throwing them in jail and start giving them community-based treatment so that they can work toward kicking their addictions.
July 7th, 2006 at 8:24 am
In an ideal world, children would not come into contact with alcohol, cigarette smoke, or recreational drug use, directly, or through breast milk and second-hand smoke. All illegal drug-use, including amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, PCP or angel dust, and marijuana, are contraindicated during breastfeeding. Marijuana is in a different category from cocaine, heroin, and PCP which put babies in extreme danger of serious side effects, addiction, and even death. Mothers who use cocaine, heroine or PCP should not breastfeed. Preferably, a baby will be cared for by a mother who in the best possible health, and protected from harm that alcohol or drugs might cause, but the reality is that many mothers are going to use drugs regardless.
The question is whether the risk of taking the drug outweighs the risk of not breastfeeding. Breastfeeding a is the most healthy choice but if it is contaminated with drugs it can be very dangerous. Babies can’t make the choice… only the mother can.
May 6th, 2007 at 10:04 pm
Julie, i am thoroughly disgusted with your response. i sincerely hope and pray you don’t work with or around drug addicts or their children. If so PLEASE RESIGN!!! The reason Ms. Prien breast fed while pregnant is because she cared more for her meth high than she did for her own child. This whole “disease” business you preach about is nonsense. If it’s such a dibilitating disease how does anyone ever get over it? People overcome drug addiction all the time. Last time i checked there is treatment for drug addiction and there are hundreds of thousands of addicts who are aware that their drug use will effect their breast milk and will bottle feed using formula instead. Not only was her choice selfish and completely wreckless it was neglectful! There are laws against neglecting children. If that same neglect leads to their death than the laws of murder apply. It’s about taking responsibility for our actions and if this woman gave her child Meth via her breast milk and it resulted in that childs death she deserves to be in prison! BOTTOM LINE! The way you make it sound is that people can expose their children to drugs like meth and as long as they’re addicts they shouldn’t have to pay the consequences regardless of how the children might suffer. That’s just unacceptable to me. It makes me wonder whats in your past? What have you done under the influence of drugs that you regret? Ironically enough, i did drugs and am a recovering alcholic and i know enough about my “disease” to know that the key to my recovery is responsibility. As messed up as i was on drugs and booze i NEVER would have breast fed my child after smoking a cigaratte (quit while i was breast feeding!) let alone breast fed him after smoking meth. H E L L O !! Shame on her and her parenting skills. Shame on her as a human being. Drugs can only change us so much. At some point we have to take responsibility for our own choices and actions! The bottom line here is that i had enough common sense and instict to know if i did drugs or drank and it effected me it would effect my breast milk! Shame on you Julie. Addiction is never an excuse or reason to neglect an innocent child.
May 6th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Julie,
i am thoroughly disgusted with your response. i sincerely hope and pray you don’t work with or around drug addicts or their children. If so PLEASE RESIGN!!! The reason Ms. Prien breast fed while pregnant is because she cared more for her meth high than she did for her own child. This whole “disease” business you preach about is nonsense. If it’s such a dibilitating disease how does anyone ever get over it?
People overcome drug addiction all of the time. Last time i checked there is treatment for drug addiction and there are hundreds of thousands of addicts who are aware that their drug use will effect their breast milk and will bottle feed using formula instead.
Not only was her choice selfish and completely wreckless it was neglectful! There are laws against neglecting children. If that same neglect leads to their death than the laws of murder apply. It’s about taking responsibility for our actions and if this woman gave her child Meth via her breast milk and it resulted in that childs death she deserves to be in prison! BOTTOM LINE! The way you make it sound is that people can expose their children to drugs like meth and as long as they’re addicts they shouldn’t have to pay the consequences regardless of how the children might suffer. That’s just unacceptable to me and every other descent parent on earth. It makes me wonder whats in your past? What have you done under the influence of drugs that you regret? Ironically enough, i did drugs and am a recovering alcholic and i know enough about my “disease” to know that the key to my recovery is responsibility. As messed up as i was on drugs and booze i NEVER would have breast fed my child after smoking a cigaratte (quit while i was pregnant and breast feeding!) let alone breast fed him after smoking meth. H E L L O !! Shame on her and her parenting skills. Shame on her as a human being. Drugs can only change us so much. At some point we have to take responsibility for our own choices and actions! The bottom line here is that i had enough common sense and instict to know if i did drugs or drank and it effected me it would effect my breast milk! Shame on you Julie. Addiction is never an excuse or reason to neglect an innocent child. PERIOD! people like this woman are the reason social services need to exist.
June 29th, 2007 at 9:13 am
This is really sad to hear about. Well i suppose she was warned not to breastfeed her baby while using drugs. If she couldn’t stop drugs, she could stop breast feeding, babies can survive whit other kinds of milk.
July 1st, 2007 at 5:34 am
This is really sad to hear about. Well i suppose she was warned not to breastfeed her baby while using drugs. If she couldn’t stop drugs, she could stop breast feeding, babies can survive whit other kinds of milk.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:52 pm
The poor little baby… Always drug addiction brings tragedy, why is it so hard to understand? This girl smoking methadone clearly wasn’t responsible for her acts, she is living now with this huge guilt.
October 26th, 2007 at 10:32 pm
I am a foster mom who got a 15 month old little girl almost 5 months ago. She tested positive for meth through her mothers breast milk. I too feel that if a parent needs to use drugs, that they should have some smarts as to not breast feed their children. Give me a break on saying that its a disease!! Think of the kids. The problems with this little girl have been very hard and heartwrenching. She is very tiny, (19.2 pounds at 20 months. She has aggressive behaviors and for being so little is very mean at times. She has been sick for almost the whole 5 months that I have had her, between sinus infections and diarrhea, plus she acts like she doesnt feel good all the time, very cranky. The mom has not even tried to get her back, because meth is more important to her. I just hope that with time, I can help her become a loving child. I have tried to find any type of research on my problem, and havent found anything. I wonder if she will outgrow it, or if she will have problems for the rest of her life.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:34 am
That was doing a bad thing with knowing exactly that she was doing. The problem is if she knew that this would kill the infant or not.
June 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am
To think that a person addicted to meth would have it in their breast milk is very saddening.
August 21st, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Dear Lisa,
I am currently being licensed as a foster parent. I just noticed your comment while researching Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and drug addiction in newborns. I am trying to decide if I am able to foster a newborn with one or more of these issues. How did it end up with your foster child? Did she improve? Did you regret taking care of her? Thanks for your time.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
Dear Nikki,
Being a foster parent is very hard, and having to deal with problems on top of it is harder. You have to have a LOT of patience. The child I took in was a relative, and yes there were times that i regretted it, but just kept going, I have had her for 16 months now, and am seeking legal custody, her mom never showed for court and they just barely took her rights away. She has improved through out the year, we still have some issues but we work on them everyday. I hope that all goes well with you and your foster kids.
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:38 pm
This woman is a selfish person.