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