Just wanted to share this with everyone.

During the time I was practicing pediatrics in  Bakersfield CA, a woman was
put on trial for the murder of her infant.  She was actively abusing
methamphetamine and decided to breastfeed her infant.  Her infant died and on
autopsy was noted to have methamphetamine the blood.  The mom was sucessfully
CONVICTED of murder and is now serving time.  Mind you there was not a well
defined CAUSAL link between mom's amphetamine use, breastfeeding and the
infant's death, however the prosecution was successful in creating that
argument.

I'd be very cautious with glib comments that amounts of Cocaine (which is
very similar to methamphetamine in effect, metabolism), methamphetamine or
other illicit drugs that pass into breast milk are insignificant.  Many women
across the country have been prosecuted, jailed, lost their children due to
 maternal drug use (in some areas just having a positive tox screen during
pregnancy without any further evaluation results in severe consequences).
 Personally, I don't think this is the best way to address addiction,
recovery or child welfare (treatment and intervention is key from my
perspective).  The greatest irony to me is that tobacco and alcohol are more
teratogenic and has more long term effects on children (and cost more to
society in terms of added hospitalization, long term care) than illicit
drugs.

So it goes,

Pierrette Mimi Poinsett MD FAAP
Steering Committee Member, Stanislaus County Perinatal Drug Abuse Coalition
Modesto California