Parents Behaving Badly

88 opinions for Donielle M. Maki Charged with Child Abuse After her Two-Year-Old Eats LSD-Laced Candy

• cristinah
  Aug 5, 2007 at 8:13 am

  I’m just glad she actually called the ambulance. So many stories of the mom letting the kids die.

• JustJess
  Aug 5, 2007 at 8:18 am

  I know this doesn’t justify or make any of this right, but at least they did call the poison control center and take her to get help. Some of the other pieces of crap in this world would have just tried to get her to vomit(as they also did), make her drink water, etc, etc, hoping for the best as they let the child lay there and die. And like I said before, I know that doesn’t make any of this ok-she should never had had the drugs around in the first place!

• Kate
  Aug 5, 2007 at 9:21 am

  I agree, drugs should never have been accessible to a child, but I’m so glad she didn’t let her child die in order to attempt to save her own backside. A child needs a parent that will protect them and keep their best interest in mind, however, and this woman did fail her little girl in that regard. Drugs have no place anywhere near children, and this mother should have kept that in mind.

• Mom of four, so far...
  Aug 5, 2007 at 9:22 am

  Quote from the article:

  “Donielle Maki told West Bend police she and her sister had conferred “to get their stories straight” to tell police that someone had left the drugs in the apartment.”

  Darn! Doncha just hate it when the drug fairy comes during the night while you are sleeping and leaves drugs and paraphernalia all over your apartment?

  ITA with the above posters, at least she sought help for the child even though she already knew her butt was busted.

• Weapon of Mass Disturbance
  Aug 5, 2007 at 5:03 pm

  Drug fairy…I like it.

• amy
  Aug 5, 2007 at 5:43 pm

  this story is really sad! poor little girl will never want to eat candy again! why would you leave things like that when you have a young child in the house~!

• Lisa
  Aug 5, 2007 at 7:47 pm

  JustJess, I agree. She screwed up bad, but at least she didn’t let her baby die. Hopefully, this poor baby doesn’t suffer any long term effects from this dangerous drug.

• Fmr Boyfriend
  Aug 6, 2007 at 8:35 am

  I used to date her in high school, and actually just talked with her the other day…to mirror what the other mother said that at least she went to the hospiral…I knew she would. She loves that child VERY much so. I also knew that she never used while she was with the kid, her mother usuaully had the child when they did. But I am not condoning her actions, I have never been a drug user. But…this makes two girls I went to high school featured on this site….

• Katie
  Aug 6, 2007 at 10:57 am

  Wow. That’s gotta give you a surreal feeling, huh? Two girls from the same high school? Drugs can ruin your life. Sounds cliche, but it is true. And I have seen it happen to more people than I care to admit. Don’t underestimate them. Addiction happens to people who never thought they would ever be users, good people who become addicted after two or three uses. And I say that not to be pious, I say it because it’s true. This was obviously a problem for her, because she felt she had to use when her child was still there, and if she was not addicted in some way, she would never have considered taking it with her child present. That’s a huge indicator. It seems like people are getting more and more stressed out in our culture lately, and in general. So many bad decisions being made lately. And yes, AT LEAST she called the hospital.

• rick
  Aug 6, 2007 at 12:04 pm

  I knew from high shcool. At first I was surprised to see someone I recognized, but then I realized it was her. I remember back when she was a sophmore she pierce her own nose with a safety needle during a football game, she was complaining to some people because she couldnt get it all the way through.

  Other than that I remembered her alwyas being a little odd, smelly (I hate to be mean but it is the truth, I sat next to her in keyboarding, it was bad,) inattentive, and I had always assumed a drug fiend. So, this is no surprise to me, except that someone was willing to sleep with her, which really shouldnt surprise me there are many unaatractive, drug addict, single moms in West Bend.

• angel
  Aug 6, 2007 at 1:42 pm

  doesn’t make sense why in the world would she leave stuff like that laying around better yet in her house, well atleast she cared enough to call and get help cause other retards would just let the child die to save their own A$$’s

• Weapon of Mass Disturbance
  Aug 6, 2007 at 2:09 pm

  People are more careful about how they drive than about how they raise their children. When there’s no accountability, people behave according to their character, not according to rules.

• coworker
  Aug 6, 2007 at 5:44 pm

  FORMER BOYFRIEND.. She cared so much when she was done partying she should clean up her nasty apartment and make sure all drugs are out of the area. She loves her child so much PARTYING wouldnt be something she would even think of anymore after having another child to look after.. like maybe instead of getting wasted how about looking for a job.. She lives where all the other loser mothers in west bend live that are mature enough to spread them but then when they have kids they expect my hard earn money to pay their way.. MAKES ME SICK and you dont dress your daughter up as a “raver” and post it on myspace she needs to get the maximum and never be able to see that kid again.

• larissa
  Aug 6, 2007 at 7:30 pm

  I agree with Just Jess. Atleast they did get the little girl help. Unlike some monster moms\dads blogged on here that just wait around and let their child die.
  Thank God the little girl is okay. The end result of irresponsible partying can be fatal.

• Mom of four, so far...
  Aug 6, 2007 at 8:38 pm

  She has a Myspace page? Where is it? Link please, I am just curious.

• Lowering the bar on parenting
  Aug 7, 2007 at 3:55 am

  […] have a usual list of things I worry about for my child, but after reading this post over at Parents Behaving Badly, I realized that like Donielle Maki, I hadn’t even considered one of the cornerstones of good […]

• Kathy
  Aug 7, 2007 at 4:41 am

  Here is the sister’s myspace (from what I can tell…)

  http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=214335273

• Coworker
  Aug 7, 2007 at 4:50 am

  If it hasnt been posted before the end of the day ill post it when I get home cause I know what it is.. unfortunately the job here blocks me from myspace.. GAY

• Katie
  Aug 7, 2007 at 6:23 am

  They block you from it at work??? Weird. What are you gonna do when you get bored? :)

  But seriously, this is a really sad case and it makes me really pissed off that people do stupid ass crap like this.

  She dressed her daughter up as a raver? This woman sounds like an ABSOLUTE IDIOT. Waste of space.

• Coworker
  Aug 7, 2007 at 7:12 am

  Yea I get bored and I have to find other websites to surf.. lol yea my place of employment is gay.. Yea if you look at her myspace page it says My lil raver and she is dressed up with a nuke in her mouth, which is commong for people who trip.. MORON.. I have no doubt she loves her daugther but she just has a lot of bad influences and not enough good ones and is to concerned with her own needs.. her drug need.. SICK

• amy
  Aug 7, 2007 at 7:32 am

  i tried searching for her on myspace by name and nothing showed up. so either she used a different name or she doesnt have one i did go to that tanya maki one but couldnt find donielles.

• Coworker
  Aug 7, 2007 at 7:36 am

  Ill get it after work if you dont find it by then…her header is I miss her more than you could know or something like that

• Fmr Boyfriend
  Aug 7, 2007 at 8:29 am

  http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=8217442&MyToken=cf9f9680-7d14-4a5b-afbe-d5e796531aa3

  Good luck though. Her profile is set to private. Her headline is ironic though.

• Fmr Boyfriend
  Aug 7, 2007 at 8:33 am

  Her most recent blog entitled “The Charges Against Me”

  While I’m not at liberty to say exactly what’s going on because of the pending trial I do want all my friends to know that I am out of jail on a $5000 signature bond and have court on the 22nd. I hope to get a good lawyer and take care of this, so if anyone knows any or has any cash to help back me let me know. Any cash borrowed will be paid back and put into writing for safety. I also need a job so if anyone knows of anything they can get me I don’t care what it is I’ll take it, let me know.

• coworker
  Aug 7, 2007 at 2:08 pm

  http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=8217442&albumID=0&imageID=5192345

  see if this works

• coworker
  Aug 7, 2007 at 2:09 pm

  crap it doesnt work

• larissa
  Aug 8, 2007 at 3:09 am

  Thank god the child is okay.
  I rarely believe in second chances for child abusers; they make me sick, but I think a few factors should be taken into consideration in this case. There is a difference between negligence and actual abuse. Now, don’t think I am condoning having drugs in the house around your child…. However, the girls did put the child to bed before, partying. If the mother doesn’t have a history or any past allegations of child abuse\neglect I think maybe she should be given a second chance. The mother of course was neglectful and probably immature but this was not an intentional case of child abuse. It was accidental and she immediately sought medical attention for the child. I think the mother should be required to complete drug and parenting classes and have amployment before the child is given back to her. Then, of course, follow up by childrens services, along with random drug screenings for the mother. Since the mother was partying and neglectful, not intentionally harming her child, I think she should be given a second chance.
  Social services gives back kids in worse circumstances; even intentional abuse. I , personally know of a case where a little girl was removed from the home TWICE because of substantiated abuse by the mom’s disgusting, 600 pound boyfriend. Mom completed all the programs, portrayed herself as a victim of domestic violence and got the child back. They waited until the case was closed and then she MARRIED the abusive boyfriend. And basically nothing can be done unless there is evidence of actual abuse. A glitch in the system? No, a serious flaw. I don’t know if the system is waiting for het to get abused again or maybe be kille dthe next time?? It is sickening to magine that the little girl is forced to live with the man that repeately abused her.She is also on psych meds at the age of 9; wonder why. Please pray for her. Her name is Britnie.

• Coworker
  Aug 8, 2007 at 4:39 am

  Ah second chance.. not for this one. Sorry but just because she has never been turned in for it doesnt mean she has been a great mom up until this point. So what we should let her have a second chance and wait until she eats 10 pills laced with some drug or gets a hold of moms CRACK PIPE.. Sorry i have 3 children and I smoked some weed before I got pregnant with my first but guess what THE MINUTE I got pregnant that was it time to grow up and take responsibility for what I had created. Sorry i think she should get supervised visits until she gets her act cleaned up and maybe when the kid is like 8 or 9 then slowly work in over night stays.. but at this point I think that child is better off without her mother in her daily life, when you live in a party house and trash is all around you that is no life for a child I am sorry.

• amy
  Aug 8, 2007 at 7:34 am

  i have to agree with coworker. im not sure i would be willing to take the chance of her doing something else neglectful and the child end up dead next time. yes she did the right thing and called for help but that doesnt override the fact that she left 10 lsd laced CANDYs on the table for her child to find and think she was getting a treat. i have done my share of things that i regret in life but when you have children it is time to grow up.!! anyone with common sense would know that if a child finds candy he/she will eat them. especially a mother! she could have found somewhere else to hide them if she really really found the need to have them in the home. i really feel for this child!

• coworker
  Aug 8, 2007 at 2:13 pm

  If only you could get on her myspace page. This one friend of hers is telling her its not her fault.. she cant believe this is happening to her.. UHM EXCUSE me when you knowingly bring drugs into your home and your child gets into it that IS YOUR fault.. These people in this city are MESSED UP. Then again they are all kids.. I need to create a forum to discuss stupid people behaving stupidly is there a website for such a thing.. UNREAL….

• jessesgirl
  Aug 9, 2007 at 11:30 am

  WOW sometimes things like this happen when you BRING drugs into the home with your BABY.WTF is wrong with people.I understand the urge to feel like a young person and party and blah blah, bbut that shit should have gone out the window when she found out she was pregnant.And it’s a shame this has happened,It could have been prevented.People with drugs habits dont get them over night and sometimes cant over come them on their own.But this should never be the exscuse .If you can have a child you should do what you have to do to raise it correctly.I’ts sa.. i hope that people like this will take responsibility for their actions, But at least she took her baby to the hospital.

• Jessi
  Aug 10, 2007 at 4:13 pm

  Personally, I think it would be one thing if she was responsible- hid them, and did it when the child was away. But a second chance?! Pffft…. this bitch can’t even stay awake while her child is running around the house, unattended, with drugs on the table! Come on now… it makes me wonder what else she is doing while the child is there!
  Now the whole- you have a child now so your life has to basically end is bull. There is a difference between having fun while being responsible, and just partying with out any concern for your child. I have had people over, drinking and what not while my daughter was spending the night at her grandmothers… But I have ALWAYS been responsible… it’s in the liquor cabinet… I stay at home, and it is NEVER around my child.
  You can still have fun- but this is just over the top.

• Coworker
  Aug 10, 2007 at 5:49 pm

  OH NO you misunderstood me. When you have children its time to grow up and Im sorry but if you are still doing drugs and you are a parent Im sorry for your children is all Im saying. Drinking is a whole different topic. I didnt say life ended after children but YOUR JOB and your SOLE job is to care for this kids and this person didnt realize that obviously. I grew up with parents that smoked weed.. LUCKY for me I was not as stupid my sisters on the other hand had the worst role models and guess what they are both drug addicts and one of them has been in jail at least 2 and so on and so on. But I wasnt meaning it to sound as if her life had to be over but there are certain things that have to change when you have children. Once in a while go out have a good time… but if that is your main concern you are nothing close to a parent. Then again maybe Im just not the norm and find that raising decent people who will go on in society isnt important to other people.

• jessi
  Aug 11, 2007 at 7:40 am

  You are completely correct.

• jessi
  Aug 11, 2007 at 7:50 am

  I don’t think weed is a big issue (I’m one of those people who think it should be legal, even though I’m not a smoker myself, lol) I DON’T condone using it around your children, I DON’T condone your children even knowing that you use it, and I DON’T condone being high anywhere near your children. It’s like ciggarettes or alcohol (which, in my experience, alcohol has ruined FAR more lives than weed) - it should be your right to enjoy them, but NEVER around your kids. LSD, and other harder drugs are a different story. I think it’s ridiculous. Those days should be over the second a pregnancy test comes back positive.
  And I’m sorry for all the crap you’ve had to go through, people with addictive personalities like that need to stay away from EVERYTHING. Alcohol and drugs alike.

• jessesgirl
  Aug 11, 2007 at 8:16 am

  I think its amazing how i can only find these stories here and i have yet to see them on the news.The public needs to be aware of things like this.Cause they are going on,and its really not so rare anymore.horrible choices makes for bad parenting.And if these things were made public more,then the next time someone does soemthing like this,they cant say they never thought their child would get into their stash,or that LSD was bad,or i just didint know .

• Coworker
  Aug 11, 2007 at 8:31 am

  The whole point is that this stuff is not apprpriate when you are a parent. Im sorry I dont agree with the whole marjiuana issue being legal. It has the same effect as liquor does in MY opinion as a prior smoker of it. I guess maybe youd have to see more people ruin their lives with drugs to understand my point, and the simple fact that when you see this mother in particular bitching at her mom because she wont watch her daughter because she cant go out and get LIT is to me disgusting and disgraceful to be a MOTHER and have no concern but your own selfish wishes to me is sick. I live my life for me but I also make a huge effort to teach and raise my children WELL. There are to many kids running around having kids doing this shit. I mean If you are responsible and take your child to a sitter then fine, but here is another thing to think about, what happens if you OD on something while your doing your partying and you die, and now what is that child left with? Motherless, fatherless.. I mean come on. When you have children DRUGS should be out of the question because think would you want your child doing this stuff? I guess thats just the way that I look at it.
  I have my views and other people have theres and maybe I hold higher standards to what a parent should be, but then again thats why babies are eating LSD and our children are smoking DOPE at the ages they are… bad parenting is the issue here and Im sorry but these people that do this sort of stuff make me ILL. I guess to I find it funny how this womans daughter is not in her posession anymore and NOW she is STILL going out and partying.. youd THINK shed get a job get her house cleaned and get her shit straight.. but when your children are not important who cares right.

• larissa
  Aug 11, 2007 at 11:30 am

  Not condoning drugs but if she wanted to “party” , it should have been while her child was not home.
  Being under the influence, it i stoo easy for someone to forget to “clean” up the stuff and put it away. A child should never be exposed to drugs.

• jessi
  Aug 11, 2007 at 1:28 pm

  I totally agree… it is disgrasful and disgusting. I was never trying to argue with that. I think you make great points. I have seen many lives ruined by meth, alcohol, and even cocaine. I personally think that marijuana is a different issue. I think it needs to be put in the catergory of alcohol and ciggarettes. It’s not something you can od from (neither is lsd, but I still don’t think such a mind-altering drug should be used by parents) and it is very productive medicinally. I think it got a bad rap during the Reagan admin. and it shouldn’t be illegal. Off the subject… I know, sorry about that.
  All I was saying is I completely agree with you, hard partying should be over when you’re a parent- but if you MUST do it… be responsible about it.

• Lisa
  Aug 11, 2007 at 8:33 pm

  jessi, it’s kind of scary to get on this site and read a comment that is so exactly what was in my head.

  coworker, way off subject here but . . .It never fails to amaze me how people who “used to. . . ” do whatever (be it born again christians, ex-smokers, alcoholics who are on the band wagon, ect.) are so insistant that no one else is allowed to make the same mistakes that they have in the past. It’s true that I am a mother (one who takes pride in the fact that my children are well taken care of and happy, healthy girls), but I didn’t give up my right to be a human being when I got married and had kids. My point is that every mother needs a break (why is it that we are so damn judgemental of each other?). You’re right in saying that every parent has a responsiblity to keep themselves and their children safe (which she clearly did not do), but even if she was bitching at her mom every weekend to go out and party it’s none of your business as long as her kids and her were both safe. If I picked apart your parenting, I’m sure I would find things that you do that I wouldn’t even allow my child to be around.

• jessi
  Aug 12, 2007 at 6:52 am

  Thank you Lisa- you put a perma-grin on my face :) I totally agree.

• Coworker
  Aug 12, 2007 at 7:28 am

  Ok you people are in like cloud 9 I never said OH HEY live at home and do nothing but be a parent.. I go out on the weekends and I drink and I have a good time. Im NOT a born again nothing but responsibilities changed the MINUTE i found out I was pregnant.. and again I SAID THAT WAS ME! What it comes down to is people that do this sort of crap this is what happens to their children. DID I say that if you are a responsible parent and take your kids to a sitter for the night and go out and have a good time you are a horrible parent.. NO I said that when you are a parent there are certain things that I dont find to be acceptable any longer and doing drugs and partying is not being a good parent. I guess you would have to know this girl and have listened to her to understand that it makes me sick that she was a parent in the first place. And as I said i guess i hold higher standards to what a parent is and what a parent is not..
  If your children are healthy and happy and all that wraped up in rainbows and sunshine why not take your weekends and go smoke some crack or take some shrooms right they are in good hands.. to me that doesnt make any sense and that is what I am saying here.. DRINKING is a whole different level and unless you are drinking and driving I have nothing to say about going out and having a good time but drugs.. sorry to say NOT acceptable parent behavior.

• Coworker
  Aug 12, 2007 at 7:35 am

  And just for the record Im not judging anyone here.. I am simply stating what is in my opinion how I think a parent should behave and I didnt say sit at home and just be a mother/father, these are simply my opinions and it isnt because of what I have seen or done or been through its just I look at my children and know that the things I did when I was 18 i wouldnt want them doing if I can do anything to help it.
  I agree about the whole marijuana/alco/cig/ TOTALLY agree that its no different then the other 2 that are legal, and that to me is not bad at all whatsoever if you want to do it go ahead but please dont do it with your children around or take care of them while you are high, just like if you are drunk you know. THATS ALL IM SAYING. This girl has a completely diff. situation that if you dont know her you wouldnt understand and if you DID youd feel the same way I do.

• jessi
  Aug 12, 2007 at 7:41 am

  I see where you are coming from… but to better understand- what is the difference between drinking and drugs? Drinking is mind altering, deadly, and was once illegal. Drinking is something that forces you to stay at home to be safe, ruins your liver and brain cells, VERY addictive, and you can “od” on easier than most drugs. But if your kids are being watched by someone responsible, you stay at home, and watch how much you consume it’s okay? What if I wanted to do Ecstasy? I left my kid with a sitter, watched the amount I consume and stayed at home… would it not be comprable? I just don’t get it. If you are going to repremand someone for ONE drug- you might as well repremand them for ALL drugs… this is the point we are trying to make- if YOU feel it’s okay to do than it’s okay, if not we are not being “responsible” parents. Even if all measures are taken to keep us and our children safe. Why? Because they are illegal? Well, LSD was legal until Right wing extremists saw it as a drug that was threatening their politics. LSD is non-addictive, and also you cannot OD from it. Marijuana is not legal because it cannot be regulated! aka- the government cannot profit from it… just see from another point of view and make your own decision.

• Coworker
  Aug 12, 2007 at 10:58 am

  Well however you feel that is fine. I dont like drugs and dont SEE the point in taking them. To me drinking does not alter your mind.. When I drink and again maybe this is just me I know WHAT I AM DOING and WHERE I AM. I might not be able to see or walk but Im AWARE. I guess I just do not see the need for drugs in anyones life. If you need drugs to have a good time Im sorry the people you surround yourself with are so dull.. that you have to enhance your experience with drugs. Im not a drug user and when I did smoke it was on the weekends and it was not A LOT the people I see who do use it alot are by far slower than what they would be when they are not on it.. I am not one who is going to be convinced that drugs are ok if you are making sure you are safe, because no you might not be able to OD on lsd but there are effects that can end in tragedy. Sorry to say that I just will not agree that its ok as long as its in a safe environment and its ok as long as the kids are taken care of.. to me its showing no regard for your health because no matter what anyone wants to BELIEVE it kills you one way or another. DRINKING kills your liver, marijuana kills brain cells/lsd/x all of that kills something. Im not a goody goody but I know what I want to set for an example for my children an behaving like this is not it. We all have our beliefs and one is not right or wrong and Im not saying you are wrong in your beliefs I am not saying I am right, this is how I feel and this is how you feel. So the point Im trying to make is this is a person who was not a PARENT… her house was not kept clean, her child was neglected, her child was not bathed on a regular basis, her child had bruises, her child had access to things CHILDREN should not have access to and all of this has to do with the fact that her acting as she was still 16 and responsible for NOTHING makes her a horrible parent in MY eyes. When you worry more about partying and when you can get your next hit of WHATEVER and not getting a job so you can provide a good future for your child I MEAN UGHHHHHH… Its just like people who sit on their lazy butts and collect off my hard earned money.. Im sorry if you need help than so be it but if you are capable of working and sit off my hard dollars that shit dont fly with me. So maybe you can see that from this point it doesnt have to do with what drugs do and my opinion of drugs its that people like this DONT DESERVE TO BE PARENTS and SHE WAS NOTHING CLOSE TO A MOTHER.

• jessi
  Aug 12, 2007 at 11:22 am

  You are so right. She is a ridiculous, disgusting “mother”- if you could call her that. She cannot take responsibility for her own actions whatsover, and she is willing to blame all her issues on other people. I was just simply saying that we can’t blame it on the drugs, you must blame the parent. There are alot of parents out there who work 50 hour weeks, provide clean, safe environments for their happy, intellegent children. And like to enjoy themselves every once in a while. It’s the same with you and alcohol- you just don’t seem to agree with drugs because of your family history. Just know that not everyone is like that, sometimes people just need a break. And personally- when I did smoke weed and what not, I never blacked out or said/did the things I did like when I drank alcohol… I was far more aware when I smoked than when I was under the influence of liquor. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, changes the way you percieve situations, and if you can’t even walk or see- it is obviously something that alters your mind.
  Also- the lazy people issue- totally true. I HATE that I pay damn near 400 dollars a paycheck for people who would rather pop out babies left and right than get a job and be responsible for their own actions. I think there are (rare) cases where it is needed and it goes to good people who simply can’t make it, but the majority of it goes to people looking for a free handout.

• Coworker
  Aug 12, 2007 at 5:42 pm

  No absolutely nothing to do with what I have seen my family to because personally their lives done effect me its this sort of thing that you see everyday that makes me want to scream what is wrong with people today. I dont care how responsible you are as a parent. Yes I drink, I dont get drunk but I drink.. (I was saying in perspective I cant see or walk as in previous before children aspect) but If I get behind the wheel and drive and die and well that leaves my children motherless so I have to take a step back and say ok well since I am a mother I cant behave like that anymore so I cant do that.
  Hence I like to party and do drugs (in example I dont do this) but OH my god I should really put my stash away because of my child gets into it well what would be horrible.. no wait I cant do this anymore this isnt just my life anymore. You do as you wish its none of my business but when it becomes news worthy it BECOMES my business and it becomes an issue, this isnt the first and it wont be the last situation like this.
  As I said I just hold a higher standard to what is appropriate behavior and what is not.. But again These are simply my beliefs and my opinions. It has nothing to do with my family, yea I think its sad they are addicts but their lives dont effect me or my children so why do I care..

• jessi
  Aug 13, 2007 at 8:30 am

  This is just going in circles- I understand what you are trying to say, it just seems to me that you validate drinking because you say you are responsible with it, but you are saying there is NO way to validate drugs… even when they are responsible with it. Kids get into liquor cabinets FAR more often than they get into “stashes”. I know this is just going to be a never ending thread, but just think about what you’re saying… review your posts- it seems to me you are being hypocrital…

• Coworker
  Aug 13, 2007 at 9:09 am

  Well ill leave it that I am sad to think you will one day be ok with your children doing drugs.. is not hypocritical because there is a reason one is legal and one isnt.. think about that..

• larissa
  Aug 13, 2007 at 9:48 am

  Jessi- well, the problem is that liquor is legal for parents to have and drugs are not. It’s all about being responsible. A parent could have a drink or two while their child is sleeping and fall asleep and the child can wake up and drink the alcohol. The result can also be as deadly as drugs. Everyone just needs to be extremely cautious. The best thing is to not have anything in the house. Or atleast pour one drink at a time and put the liquor away locked ,preferably or way way up high. We just have to be respnsible. Accidents are a leading cause of child death.

• jessi
  Aug 13, 2007 at 10:46 am

  Coworker-
  I never said I was okay with my children doing drugs, and I never said I did drugs… I said, as an adult- we should be able to make adult decisions on our own. You cannot legislate morals. You should allow people (of a certain age) to make their own life choices. As long as it is not harming others.

  And you’re right- there is a reason one is legal and one is not. Politics- no one has ever od’d on lsd- it became illegal because people were having these enlightening “trips” and starting to think for themselves- starting to say “hey, wait a minute- this war isn’t right!” And it scared the government- look it up.
  Cocaine was primarily used by housewives and medicinally (as was heroine) until black people became associated with it and people were scared that they (I am not kidding here) were going to rape the white women and become “out of control”.
  Marijuana is VERY effective medicinally, and -in my belief- this is only illegal because it can not be controlled. Any one, any time, anywhere can sell it and grow it. Therefore it cannot be regulated. Although the legalization of Marijuana is not far away.
  And don’t get me started on the abolition of this- now legal- drug we call “alcohol”. You are right, drugs are illegal for a reason. Because they are “scary”, because they cannot make our government a finantial gain, because people like you who have no knowledge of the subject make assumptions and assume everyone who uses is an addict. Let me ask you- do you drink coffee every day? How about caffinated tea? Ciggarettes? You like alcohol obviously… How about pain medication? Sleep medication? Come on now…. think about what you blurt out. These are all legalized, deadly, profitable “drugs”.

• jessi
  Aug 13, 2007 at 10:50 am

  Oh, and let me mention that LSD (a mind-expanding drug) has been used by some of the greatest minds in science to broaden their minds. Double Helix (the structure of dna) was “discovered” by a scientist who was said to be using small doses of LSD to expand his mind….
  And Ecstasy was used by Marriage Therapists- the tablets were given to couples to help them with their empathy issues. It was completely legal until the 80’s (I believe).

• Coworker
  Aug 13, 2007 at 12:09 pm

  Well You know again most of these brilliant people were also crazy… hence thats why they were brilliant.. I also dont find this therpay and X going hand in hand.. again if you need drugs to ehance those around you or your relationship theres nothing much there to begin with… in all of what you are telling me right now at some point these people have underlying psychological issues that they NEED to take these things.. HERS was not a psychological NEED.. ITS ILLEGAL and its not the correct thing to be doing with children.. END OF MY THOUGHTS ON THIS! :) You are just in my eyes trying to justify being a lousy parent when your kids get into your stash (not specifically SAYING YOU, in general you know)

• jessi
  Aug 13, 2007 at 12:41 pm

  I never wanted to justify her lousy parenting! From the beginning I have coencided and said that she was horrific! In no way was I justifying her actions! I was just hoping to help a stubborn person who thinks everything SHE does is right, and everyone who doesn’t is wrong, change her views and get some perspective. I obviously failed. Good day.

• Coworker
  Aug 13, 2007 at 12:55 pm

  IM SUPPOSED to OPEN my mind to loser parents who completely have no regard for their children and if you USE drugs you have no regard for the horrible consequences that CAN and DO occur from accidents or mistakes and that makes it no regard for your children. Im sorry I do find myself to be above all the parents out there that go out to have a “good time” and use but hey the kids are safe.. NO sorry that will never be ok with me. Its disgusting and disgraceful.. If you feed your baby a bottle until their 5 hey thats your choice Im not going to sit back and say thats wrong, if you dont put your kids to bed at the same time everynight or make sure their homework is done I wont be judgmental, but I wont sit back and say you are a great mother because you make sure your kids are taken care of while you go TRIP and get HIGH ON LOVE! OMG that is ignorance to me sorry

• Coworker
  Aug 13, 2007 at 5:08 pm

  Ok comparing coffee to lsd.. come on. I dont drink coffee, I dont smoke, I drink OCCASIONALLY. Im a healthy person and I have to be because I have children and want to see them grow and do things and meet my grandchildren. Im not ignorant to drugs, i have done them, I have experienced what they do to peoples lives… once you make the crap legal this stuff happens more often and more dangerous things happen like death, I dont care if its not capable of killing you it damages your mind, your heart, your BODY.. Im not for legalizing drugs, Marijuana yes i am for the purpose of medical needs and nothing more. Sorry I guess Im a one of those snobby people who thinks shes better than other people (that was a joke) yea adult decisions if you dont have other people depending on you to take care of and provide for them. Sorry its not something I (and thats it, Im not saying what you believe is wrong) I think should be something parents should be doing… I dont want my children unhealthy and unintelligent, I want them strong and good additions to society and those people that are on drugs or do them socially are not strong and healthy sorry to say!

• Coworker
  Aug 13, 2007 at 5:51 pm

  Here I believe what I do and you have your own.. I dont think you can change peoples minds, like I cant change you to think that drugs are wrong… right. Ok then. Im just here for input on what the world thinks about this situation and how the world really thinks is scary…. I am not perfect as many people are not and i have done some things as a parent Im not proud of Im sure others would hang with mouths open when they see me lose my patience after a long week of work and kids and house work and everything else the world throws at me.. but this is beyond anything Id ever justify and say is ok.. well she was responsible and took her to the hosptial she was responsible and hid them at the bottom of her purse.. well to me its not ok.. Jessi we each have different views, but thank you for sharing yours with me.. It did make me think but it wont make me change my mind. :) Its a lively debate that has been going on for years and we have 2 people right here right now on 2 different sides of this.. so it makes it fun to me

• amy
  Aug 13, 2007 at 6:00 pm

  i have to say that i agree totally with coworker on this one!!!! no matter how you look at it …. ITs illegal!!! you could lose your kids over it , lose your job,etc. as a parent it should be your obligation to make sure that you will always be there for your children and i dont think you can do such a great job from jail.

• jessi
  Aug 14, 2007 at 6:22 am

  I enjoy talking with you too coworker. Sadly- it’s enjoyable to me as well, lol. It makes it fun when you have two people with OPPOSITE views, who don’t name call, and have respect for the other person.
  Amy- that is probably the one reason that is not justified. It is illegal, and you may (variable word being “may”) go to jail. There is nothing you can do about that. That is the only reason why parents should not do drugs. lol- BUT (I had to throw one of those in there! lol), when I did smoke weed and what not, I never went to jail, no friends of mine ever even came in contact with the police- including the dealer. I know this sounds stupid but- we were responsible about it! We got it from/for close friends of ours. We weren’t out at 2 am at a parking lot, we didn’t drive while using anything… we got a small amount, from friends, to use at home, with friends. Even though I was young, I was smart about it. In fact, I had a 3.5 gpa, was involved in school, and carried multiple part time jobs as well. I just wish that “drugs” wasn’t such a scary word. I wish that irresponsible people (like this lsd mom) wouldn’t give it such a bad name…
  I wish that acohol would be as scary as “drugs”. My friend Lindsay had to deal with an acoholic mom who would pass out on the kitchen floor, with foam coming out of her mouth… in front of all of Lindsay’s friends… and Lindsay was so used to it that she would just walk by her like nothing was wrong… Why is THIS drug legal… but Marijuana is considered a “Schedule 1: High Abuse, No Recognized Medical Use, Lack of Safety”? WTF?! HIGH ABUSE? um… non addictive…. NO RECOGNIZED MEDICAL USE?- umm… why are they prescribing it for cancer patients? LACK OF SAFETY?! I’m pretty sure that DUI’s cause far more deaths a year than smoking weed…. wouldn’t you agree that Alcohol should be in that category? High abuse- yes, that’s why we have AA, No medical use- one drink a day to help your blood- but you can take vitamins and be just fine, Lack of safety, need I bring up AA and DUI’s again? Please…

• Coworker
  Aug 14, 2007 at 6:55 am

  I totally agree on the aspect of marijuana being something I am ok with. I mean I smoked it I held a good gpa, I had jobs I wasnt addicted to it, I dont believe you can become addicted to it at all. And yea I agree that as long as you are in your home safe and sound then fine. Again its like one person ruins it for everyone but there are certain things that I dont think are ok just for the fact that you have to keep yourself healthy for your children and you cant deny there are effects from long term use of things other than marijuana and that doesnt lead you to a healthy life with your childre I guess is what I am saying. You have to lead by example for your children.. So I must say you know debating your points with people who dont call out names and say YOU are wrong for your beliefs is so much fun! .. Jessi you have to be the first I have ever run into that I can do that with.. KUDOS to you :) I enjoy it…

  I agree drinking is far worse than the damn marijuana and I dont think I know to many people that dont have DUI’s and have almost hurt themselves or others.. so i agree that maybe that should be illegal or there maybe should be some amount of moderation businesses are allowed to supply when people are out, then bars would go out of business I guess..OMG something we can agree on! WOOO HOO its a miracle.. haha

• jessi
  Aug 14, 2007 at 7:53 am

  LMAO! At this rate we can solve all the worlds problems!… On to the next story! ;)

• Coworker
  Aug 14, 2007 at 8:17 am

  whats the next one? HAHA

• Donald Douglas
  Aug 14, 2007 at 9:03 am

  Well, you’re right, Anne Marie: That’s some parent really behaving badly!

• ~AMY~
  Aug 14, 2007 at 1:43 pm

  Has anyone heard this girls part of the story? or does anyone know her good enough to judge her!!! just remember the media likes to tear people down and make things sound much worse and change things around! ♥

• Jenny
  Aug 14, 2007 at 1:56 pm

  Umm, her baby got a hold of LSD that looked like candy, hmmmm. That is the simple fact, you cant sugar coat it, cant play it down and there is no way in hell to make the facts look any differently.

• ~AMY~
  Aug 14, 2007 at 3:32 pm

  Im just saying that everyone here is really putting her down… for a mistake!! im pretty sure she didnt do it intentionally im not trying to sugar coat it at all. i know that she did wrong but we cant just sit here saying how much she is this and that if we really dont know her. they are wanting to give her 20 something years!! shit sometimes people get less then that for murder! how is that right?

• Coworker
  Aug 14, 2007 at 4:28 pm

  I do know her personally and have seen her behavior so yea I can step in and say what I think and can judge accordingly the media didnt hype nothing up they stated it plain and simple.

• jessi
  Aug 14, 2007 at 4:40 pm

  That was attempted murder in my eyes Amy- she needs to grow the fuck up…

• kshakes
  Aug 14, 2007 at 6:34 pm

  WOW..I’m 42 years old and my mother who gave birth to me at 16 LOVED to party. I grew up in a drug infested home and was actually fed pot brownies at a young age..umm, I think at about 9 or 1o yrs old. She smoked “freebase” with me in high school(and all kinds of other “fun” stuff to try) and all my friends thought I was so cool to have a mom like her. NOT…I would never, ever have drugs in my home neverless do them myself. My kids (age 15 and 4) dont have any clue of a life style like i grew up in. Its all bad no matter what anyone thinks. I think if anyone has an opinion worth listening to..it is mine! No child should have to live in this environment EVER. This Mom is wrong..and even if she “loves” her child more than anything..she needs to learn NOW from her mistakes. Believe me..I love my mother even to this day but disagree with what I had to grow up with…you guys have no idea. I am so over all of it, hold no grudges or pity on my part. I just do the best I can to make sure MY kids NEVER have to have that in thier lives. Hopefully they will never themselves get involved with any of it and just have a wonderful fulfilling life. Hey, even though it was a vast part of my life I dont make it a part of who I am today. I am happy and have a great life..work hard and take care of what I need to! I also have an awesome husband wgho is as straight as they come (thank god.. LOL) Guess you have to just understand that part of it….Mabe that little girl will turn
  out like me someday :)

• ~AMY~
  Aug 15, 2007 at 4:56 am

  okay lets put aside the fact that drugs are illegal…….. i bet 80 % of mothers have not completly child proofed their homes!! i mean completly. away from ALL dangers….. there is no way of completly doing so. so if you forget to put ONE of those little thingys in the socket but all the others have one and your child puts a fork the only open one…… its attempted murder!!! whatever!

• Coworker
  Aug 15, 2007 at 6:11 am

  Comparing electirc outlets to lsd laced candy COME ON PEOPLE! Get real here.. unreal.

• ~AMY~
  Aug 15, 2007 at 6:49 am

  i think everyone is misunderstanding me!!! im not saying this woman shouldnt do jail time or lose her child. im not saying that at all. im also not saying what she did wasnt wrong because it was horrible what she did. im just trying to make the point that no parent is perfect. and i have seen stories that mothers have done much much worse and got away cause they are so say insane. like that crazy woman that drowned each one of her kids one at a freakin time… and they pretty much slapped her on the wrist cause she pleaded insanity. im really not saying that she is innocent and they shouldnt keep her kids away from her cause i think they should. i also agree that she isnt mature enough to be a mother. i am just trying to say that noone here really really knows what is going through this mothers head. she might just be mentally ill or something. if not then okay they should bury her under the jail but i just feel that it takes someone with not many screws to do that.

• larissa
  Aug 15, 2007 at 3:17 pm

  I agree with you Amy…..I feel the woman should be monitored by child services with ongoing drug tests and be required to take drug\parenting classes. Yes, she was extremely negligent and irresponsible, but maybe she needs help and education; not to be so severely punished that she never sees her daughter again and her daughter gets thrown into the foster care system , possibly into an abusive, sad situation. I am not condoning drug use or what happened to this child but she did not do it intentionally and did seek medical help immediately for her little girl. Should she really never have her child again? I think her history should be evaluated , as long as she hasnt committed any parenting offenses in the past and completes programs and is monitored for drug uses, she should have her child back. Sorry, guys but I think the problem, sucha s with this case is someone is young,immature, ignorant, perhaps,etc. That does not make her a bad person. Perhaps she needs help.

• larissa
  Aug 15, 2007 at 3:28 pm

  Kathy, I do realize what you are saying. there is a difference netween someone that knows what they are doing and doesn’t..However, we cannot compare the evil bitch that drowned her kids to this woman. THIS particular mom was negligent and irresponsible….she didn’t kill her child , and if her child, did die , god forbid from eating the drugs, it would have been a tragedy, perhaps , manslaughter but still not intentional. FUCK the moms\dads that kill their kids then cry insanity. It makes me so sick and upset I cannot even begin to describe it. Crazy thoughts or stressed out, I don’t give a damn….If you do, unfortunately, for some reason, have crazy thought to hurt your kids for some reason, you don’t act on it; GET SOME FRIGGIN’ HELP!! That bitch that drowned her kids drowned them one by one. That took planning and time. They suffered and I imagine they were very scared. I’m sorry, but it takes an evil person to do that. I believe that the woman that drowned her kids was perhaps mentally ill but so are alot of us. She knew what she was doing. I hate people that intentionallly hurt defenseless people. That is the problem with this country “the insanity defense”.. The only time that should be allowed is if , for example, someone molested your kid and you killed them. yeah, well , the, okay, then you were insane. Sorry, but I get very emotional on this subject.

• jessi
  Aug 15, 2007 at 4:56 pm

  I agree with Larissa. I think that she should get some serious drug counseling, and probational period without her kids. It doesn’t necessarily mean her kid will get thrown into the system. I’m sure she has loving family that would be happy to have the child for a year or so. I deff. think she should serve some jail time. She needs some time without anything in her system- to think about maybe not what DID happen, but what COULD have happened. Her daughter could have easily freaked out and ran in the middle of the street… She needs to take classes and EARN this child back. EARN her rights as a parent back… imo

• Coworker
  Aug 15, 2007 at 6:59 pm

  Her kid is in the custoday of the father, she has supervised visitation and she is still more worried about partying and going out and having “fun”.. I mean she is trying to get her court issues situated but other than that from what I hear she isnt working on much more than that, supervised sure.. ever get her kid back maybe 2 years after shes been clean and held a job and an apartment a “clean” apartment….

• jessi
  Aug 15, 2007 at 7:06 pm

  In that case… she shouldn’t ever get her kid back. It’s pathetic that she’s in a situation that her story is nationwide… and she can’t even PRETEND to get her act together. I’m sure she’s happier that she doesn’t have custody. At least she’s only fucking up her own life and not her kid’s life anymore.

• larissa
  Aug 16, 2007 at 1:26 am

  I hope her father is caring for her properly

• Naikol
  Aug 20, 2007 at 5:50 pm

  You people piss me off i am a close personal friend on doni and i know for a fact she it torn up about this she took insanely good care of her daughter there was nothing that daughter ever wanted she had everything she ever wanted!!!! and the way you bash her yes i am pissed at her for not puting the lsd someware where the kid couldn’t get to it but for one the lsd wasn’t just laying around like all the news reports would have you belive they ware buryed in her purse. The kid actully had to go threw her purse to get to the candys. The only reason doni delt pot was to help give her daughter all the things in the world she wanted, doni did everything for her kid, EVERYTHING!!! and i know she will do anything she can to try and get her back not that i think it could happen. don’t get me wrong this is totaly wrong and i don’t support the fact that the kid took the lsd but its not like she force fed her the lsd the baby went thru her purse and took it and the fact that she called poisen control proves shes wasn’t some dead beat mom. And being released to her dads the kid loved her mom more then her dad her dad barly payed child support much less ever had the kid i think if i remember right her dad only took her 2 days every 2 weeks and sometimes he didn’t at all you all piss me off show her some kindness i had to watch her break down infront of me over this this is horrible she loved her so much and for all this to happen is horrible i said my peice and i will stay anon and will not comment on this farther.

• destiny7422
  Aug 21, 2007 at 4:58 am

  This is coworker and if you are any thing like any of her other friends.. well I would listen to to much you have to say. Sorry but there are several people who have partied over by her that I am friends with that will vow and tell you her house was nasty, and there are other people who will tell you she wasnt a good mom, I have seen her mothering skills.. she may love her daughter I dont doubt that but there is a time to grow up and when you have children its that time. Hopefully this will wake her up and she will get her crap together but as of right now, guess what shes a bad mom in a lot of peoples eyes! So you wont get pity from anyone and the news stated it as plain as day there was nothing misleading in any of the information provided.

• Kathy
  Aug 21, 2007 at 5:15 am

  Naikol-
  Well, has she learned her lesson? Is she going to stay away from drugs and stop dealing pot? I have to provide for my daughter too and I keep a full time job, I don’t resort to illegal activities.
  Making fast easy money is LAZY. If she loved her child so much, she wouldn’t have risked having her taken away. Now she has to pay the price.
  Hopefully this is the wake up call she needed. She loves that child, she will do everything that is required of her to make sure she gets her back AND do everything to make sure that there is never any reason to remove her again.
  You are pissed off we are talking about your friend. I am pissed off that she put a helpless child that she is responsible for caring for in DANGER. I can’t feel sorry for an adult that is free to make her own choices in life. She chose wrong.

• Susan
  Aug 21, 2007 at 6:07 am

  “daughter ever wanted she had everything she ever wanted”, “was to help give her daughter all the things in the world she wanted”, what a load of crap, WANTS and NEEDS are two separate things! The child NEEDS a mother who is going to watch (and protect her) what she brings around her, whether it’s people, objects, etc. The child NEEDS food, shelter, clothes, medical attention. The child NEEDS a responsible mother who will get a legal job and work hard like the rest of us…I’m a single mother of two children, and although we have had some VERY rough times to get through, I haven’t resorted to selling myself or drugs or committing other crimes to take care of my children! That’s a lazy poor excuse to say she sold drugs to take care of her child, let me guess, she was probably also milking the welfare system too right? That’s sad, because my children and I can’t get help through welfare although we pay into the system and some lazy, uneducated girl like this can collect, considering she’s never really paid ANYTHING into the system considering her age? The child DOESN’T NEED designer name brand clothes, fancy name brand shoes, more toys then she can play with, etc etc because now your creating a spoiled child…my kids aren’t afraid to wear “second hand” clothes, that’s what we can afford, that’s what they wear, and they don’t care who likes it, if you don’t like the “way they look”, look the other way! sounds like mommy in this story was too busy worrying about what SHE WANTED, not what the child “wanted” (plus, a child at 2 years old doesn’t know the difference between wants and needs, they usually learn that from those around them!). Now that she doesn’t have her kid, let’s hope that any of the welfare assistance she was receiving stops, and in turn, she has to get a REAL job now to pay the father child support since he has the kid now! Stupid girl, she got what she deserved, now she needs to grow up!!

• Liz_NM
  Aug 22, 2007 at 10:09 pm

  I have watched this post since the event, as I know the child, father and mother. I am happy to say the child is doing well and is happy in the custody of her father.

  In terms to the father, he has always been a part of the child’s life, caring for the child at least 2 days a week, as well as paying more than the minimum percentage of court mandated child support to Donielle.

  Whereas I know it isn’t easy to be a single mother, Donielle had lots of assistance available to her. She lived in low income housing, received food and health benefits and had her parents, sister and other family to help watch and care for her child (often I might add).

  I also know that Donielle had not held a full time job in over a year. She once justified to me that if selling drugs is what she needed to do to provide for her daughter, there was nothing wrong with that. Over 4 ounces of marijuana were found in the home, as well as non-perscribed vicadin. She told the officers the LSD were for a cousin, but if this was true, what about the other drugs in the home? This wasn’t just a selling thing. She was using and obviously, catering to her own needs.

  In knowing Doni and the child, I have always tried to believe that she was doing the best job she could. However, after this event, I know she was barely trying. The child is almost 3 and is not potty trained (even though I know each child is different). I know the father would often pick up the child and take her straight home, just to take a bath because the child would smell like smoke or be covered in old food and dirt. The child never had name brand items, unless they were gifts (not that children do need to, they grow so fast and get dirty), but the child would be in dirty clothes (that reaked of smoke or were filthy) on a continual basis.

  I also know that since the event, Doni has not stopped her lifestyle. The weekend she was released on her bond, she went to Fond Du Lac to a hard metal concert! She also stated to the father that she hasn’t stopped smoking pot. If getting her daughter back meant that much to her, she would stop hanging out with the crowd she surrounds herself with (as well as the spelling genuis above) who believe that Doni has done nothing wrong and clean up her act.

  And also, she (as well as some people on this chain) might think that she did something great by making the child throw up first. While she did take some action, she should have immediately called poision control and taken the child to the hospital. Doni and her sister tried to enduce vomiting first before they called poision control told her to take the child to the hospital (I have also heard that the ambulance was contacted by poison control and came to the apartment to get the child, not that Doni took the child to the hospital onher own accord). I personally believe she was simply trying to cover her own ass to avoid having to deal with the police and hospital. Current guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend against keeping syrup of Ipecac in the home and in fact recommend disposal of any syrup of Ipecac present in the home as
  there is no evidence that syrup of Ipecac actually helps improve the outcome in cases of poisoning, administering syrup of Ipecac can delay administering more effective treatments, such as activated charcoal and/or antidotes, syrup of Ipecac can change neurologic status, and so the effects of the Ipecac can be mistaken for the effects of the poisoning and accidental overdose of Ipecac can result when administered in the home.

• Kathy
  Aug 23, 2007 at 4:30 am

  Thanks Liz. Its nice to know that there are some responsible adults around this child. I would like to ask if the father is applying for full custody of the child? Since this woman doesn’t seem to be trying, shouldn’t he see about making sure she has a stable and safe home environment?

• Liz_NM
  Aug 24, 2007 at 6:10 am

  IN response to the above comment, yes. The father actually had been making arrangements since mif July to take full custody of the child at the time of the event actually. The child was to be in his full care by mid August, but this event expitited the timeframe.

• Susan
  Aug 24, 2007 at 6:32 am

  I think the father should go after her for full child support if he now has custody, as well as go in front of the judge questioning any and all child support money he has paid to her over the time she had the child, maybe he can file a civil suit against her to get that child support money back from her since she obvousily wasn’t caring for the child and was obviously using the money for other things not related to the child! He may never collect his money back from her, but with a judgement against her,he can then put liens against her, report it on her credit, etc! I would do that if it was me because obviously she just doesn’t get what it means to support a child properly!

• BLUE
  Apr 13, 2008 at 7:37 pm

  I think that the real issue here is of society in general not dealing the right way with people that need help! Instead of helping and healing people, with addiction, society has a “DO NOTHING UNTIL IT IS TOO LATE ATTIUDE!” I can speak of this from experience! When my child was behaving very unusual and there was major concern and proof that he was making dangerous decisions I called the crisis hotline in our town and the police. I asked them to have him drug tested because I knew he was somehow getting drugs. They said that they could not do anything because he was sixteen! I was (and still am) furious! So, even when a person does have troubles and their loved ones know about it there is nothing one can do but pray! That is ridiculous! We should be able to better help people, I mean we are the most advanced nation in the world for cripes sake! I would think that we could have some sort of system that would rehab them and then a follow up system that would require random drug testings with penalties for not staying clean. I know that the system of ‘wait until bad stuff happens’ and then either ruin more lives by throwing troubled (and usually poor) people away in jail, or causing more distress to their already poverty stricken lives by buring them with fines and records that label them useless and unemployable for the rest of their lives to the point that they are completely paralyzed for the rest of their life. I just know that our nation can do more to help with our one chance here on earth. Including the innocent life of the toddler, whose life was hanging in balance after eating the drugs. I am sure that if there were better programs that actually helped people and interveined these kind of cases there would be a lot less! Instead society just shrugs and says “We can’t do anything when they are sixteen”, how ironic, since that is the age when there is the most confusion. They are not yet adults (even though they think they are) and are struggling to become more independent from their parents. Duh, this is the time that society should be doing the most for youth. They are going to make mistakes, all people do with new big tasks, and there is not much greater task than being a teenager in a huge high school with not a few but a few hundred influences. Current statistics state that one in ten people graduating from high school will go to prison. It is a public service announcement. I do not know about all of you but that is a very sad and scarey outook for our youth, and a number that I will not accept! I firmly believe that is because we do not have enough preventative measures to keep our kids out of jail! We need to help intercept those dangers. Just look at the D.A.R.E program that was trying to teach youth about the real dangers of drugs, it is being cut. So, we cannot educate about drug dangers, we cannot intercept with testing and treatment, but we condone publicizing and glamorizing drugs, violence, and sex all over the airwaves; on television, radio, internet, cell phones, MP3s, literature, and in fashion. Even if you do not condone it, it is everywhere and no matter how hard one tries to protect their families from negative influences it is a GINORMOUS industry! We support it without even knowing, and it is only getting worse! We will only see the one in ten rise and that is unacceptable, unless we help. Help by demanding better help! By this I mean vote for the politicians who want to help the people grow strong instead of weak. Vote for those that support education over incarceration. Vote for little guy instead of the big guy who could care less becasue they just buy their way out of trouble, and steal from the little guy by selling the addictive infesting materials. Help those in need by showing that you care and never give up! “A success was once a failure as a failure was once a success.” Help create more successes through intervention, prevention, and will, instead of ‘waiting’ until something happens or knowing something may happen, and waiting til it does like our government does. Just look at healthcare. If you do not pay boo-ku bucks, you do not have health care, another HUGE loss chalked up to the non-prevention mentality (think about it - if we prevented these issues it would mean less money for those that really should be preventing so why would they. I will tell you why, if they prevented drug addiction and provided better health care, people would be healthier and prevention can be the new business instead of prisons, funeral homes, high cost health care, and so on. It is really fairly simple.) Instead of preventing health ailments our country is allowing health ailments as ok. It is just sooooooo frustrating. Ok I have gone on about this but these are facts and my beliefs. The topic is vast and deserves and even demands attention. Today I attended the funeral of a twenty one year old girl related to the toddler that ate the drugs and feel that after such a tragedy I owed it to her, my son, and all that loved her for her. Kind and thoughtful words in memory of a beautiful angel. Hopefully, there is hope!

• sadlylaboring
  Apr 22, 2008 at 8:47 am

  Blue-
  I hear you on this.

  As an update, sentencing has been delayed due to a horrific tragedy. The lifestyle of drug use, that almost sucked this baby in, has taken the life of Donielle’s sister Tanya. Tanya was charged with obstrcution of justice for lying to police officers regarding the child’s drug exposure.

  Tanya was found shot to death outside her home. They have no suspects, no leads, but her peers say she was killed in revenge for her boyfriend doing a bad drug deal.

  Donielle will probably never have her child back, and now will have to mourn her sister from jail.

  Drugs suck.

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