Opioid epidemic leaving more children in Alabama’s foster care system

Opioid epidemic leaving more children in Alabama’s foster care system

 | 

Updated: 12:33 AM CDT May 27, 2017

Opioid epidemic leaving more children in Alabama’s foster care system

Opioid epidemic leaving more children in Alabama’s foster care system

 | 

Updated: 12:33 AM CDT May 27, 2017

A little known effect of the opioid epidemic is causing a big issue for children across the country. There’s an increased need for foster parents because of these drugs.

WVTM 13’s Marlei Martinez tells you why.

WEBVTT >> IT’S BEEN DEVASTATING FOR ME.MARLEI: JUDITH STORY IALABAMA’S LONGEST ACTIVE FOSTERPARENT.>> IT REALLY AFFECTS THE KIDSBECAUSE THE KIDS DON’T KNOW WHYTHEIR PARENTS CAN’T GET THEMBACK.MARLEI: SO SHE’S SEEN FIRST-HANDTHE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OFOPIOID ADDICTION ON A HOME.>> MOST OF THOSE KIDS ARE HAVINGALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT PROBLEMSADJUSTING TO LIFE.MARLEI: WHAT STORY IS SEEING HASBECOME A STATE AND NATIONWIDEPROBLEM.ACCORDING TO THE U.S. HEALTHRESOURCES AND SERVICESADMINISTRATION, MORE KIDS AREENTERING THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEMBECAUSE OF THE OPIOID CRISIS.>> IT IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR US.MARLEI: WILLIAMS SAYS HERE INALABAMA, THERE’S BEEN A NEARLY38% INCREASE IN FOSTER CHILDRENFROM 2015 TO 2016 DUE TO DRUGSAND ALCOHOL ISSUES.>> WHEN YOU HAVE AN ADDICTIONWITH OPIOIDS, IT IS VERY HARD TOKICK.AND OUR KIDS ARE TRAUMATIZED BYSEEING THEIR FAMILIES GO THROUGHTHATMARLEI: STORY SAYS SHE’S EVENTAKEN CARE OF FOSTER KIDS WHOSEMOTHERS TOOK OPIOIDS WHILEPREGNANT.SHE SAYS THEY OFTEN SUFFER FROMDEVELOPMENTAL ISSUES, NIGHTMARESAND BEDWETTING.>> WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.CAN’T GET THEM TO FOCUS.IT’S JUST A SAD THING.MARLEI: BUT STORY SAYS THERE’SONE THING SHE’S DISCOVERED THATHELPS COMBAT OPIOIDS.>> IF YOU TELL THEM THAT YOULOVE THEM EVERY DAY AND DO THEBEST YOU CAN, THEY MIGHT GROW UPTO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO, WITHTHE HELP OF THE LORD.MARLEI: IN BIRMINGHAM, MARLEI