Emotions Can Lead To Drug Use
A common misconception is that you will automatically lose custody if you choose or are ordered to attend rehab, but this is not always true. Entering rehab can show the courts that you are committed to getting better, which then allows you a chance to prove to the court that you are capable of raising your child sensibly and that they can depend on you. You are entering rehab because you recognize that you need help. Young children and even teenagers are always watching what their parents do, even if they don’t realize it. You need to be the best person and parent possible, so if that means you need to attend rehab, you need to recognize that it must be done if you want to remain a part of your child’s life.
Drug Use Could Be Fatal to the Outcome
There Could Be Supervision
In many instances, a parent’s visitation might end up being supervised for a time until several clean drug tests are present. In some cases, where a parent continually fails drug tests, that parent could ultimately end up with only supervised visitation for the long term. Importantly, that parent may also not be an equal decision-maker in their children’s lives regarding legal custody. In some cases, where the drug use is extreme, parents can even have their parental rights terminated, and the children can end up in the custody of the state.
Something else that is important to understand is the outcome of multiple failed drug tests. Supervised visitation could be in order in the long term, if at all. This then causes that party to lose all rights as an equal decision-maker in the children’s lives and in legal custody matters. Parental rights can be terminated, which then causes the children to be in the custody of the state.
Whether you are fighting to be the primary residential parent who has full custody or fighting for weekend visits with your children, the evaluation process by the court will encompass and consider all of your behavior at all times. Something important to consider, depending on your terms with the other parent, is that they may jump to point out any negative behavior you exhibit. Another important thing to remember is that children may mimic. You should expect your children to tell their mother everything you tell them. Knowing this, you should be aware of anything said to or around the children that relates to their mother.
These are a few reasons why it is so extremely vital that parents understand what they are putting at stake if they choose to casually use drugs. The first thing is first, and that should always be keeping the children’s best interests in mind above all else. Someone may question what the difference is between a party casually using drugs and casually drinking alcohol. Although alcohol abuse can be just as destructive and dangerous as drug abuse, it is still legal above all else, whereas most drugs are not.
The outcome of your case can become detrimental if it is not clear that you have your child’s best interests in mind. Something to remember to help you during the time of your case is to behave as though the judge were standing next to you each time you interact with the children or other parents. This will certainly help you avoid the pitfalls that will reduce your custody chances.
For all these reasons, parents must think long and hard before they even engage in casual drug use as a parent. At the end of the day, the children’s interests have to come first. While in the middle of a custody case and/or court proceedings, the drug use simply has to stop.
