Families SA intensifies drug testing of at-risk parents with 772 referrals in this financial year

FAMILIES SA has dramatically intensified drug testing of at-risk parents — but is not releasing details on test results or what happens to those who test positive.

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FAMILIES SA has dramatically intensified drug testing of at-risk parents — but is not releasing details on test results or what happens to those who test positive.

The child protection agency has made 772 referrals for drug assessment, testing and treatment so far this financial year, up from the 435 in 2014-15 and 185 in 2013-14.

Murder victim Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson.

The latest figures were released after requests by The Advertiser in the wake of the killings of Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson, 29, and her children Amber, 6, and Corey, 5, on Monday.

Ms Rigney-Wilson’s family has said she had an addiction to the drug ice — and Families SA has confirmed that it was in “active” contact with the family.

It is not known whether Ms Rigney-Wilson had been subjected to any drug testing.

Families SA has not released any details on the number of positive drug test results or actions taken following a positive result.

Opposition child protection spokeswoman Rachel Sanderson questioned what Families SA did once it verified someone was a drug user.

“What processes are they putting in place to ensure that children are protected?” she said. “How many people went into drug treatment programs?

“How many children were removed from parents who tested positive?”

Adeline’s murdered children Corey and Amber.

Child Development Minister Susan Close forecast in Parliament in late last year that the total number of drug test or treatment referrals to be conducted by Families SA this financial year was likely to reach 1000.

At the time she said Families SA was conducting more tests “both through a change in approach and attitude ... but also, far more worryingly, an increase in the use of drugs that are causing people to become poorer parents”.

In mid-April, MPs passed laws that tightened drug testing rules — a year after recommendations to do so were made in the wake of a coronial inquest into the death of young Chloe Valentine, who died in the care of her neglectful mother and her mother’s then-partner in 2012.

The new laws require the chief executive of Families SA to order a drug assessment of any parent who is suspected of putting a child at risk by abusing drugs — be it illicit substances, prescription medications or alcohol — unless they have had a recent test.

However, SA Family First MP Robert Brokenshire said the new drug-testing laws did not go far enough. He is now drafting legislation that would require any parent suspected of putting a child at risk through drug abuse to undergo testing. Mr Brokenshire expects to introduce a Bill by the end of next month and call a vote by the end of the year.

“If people want to make the lifestyle choice to take up a drug addiction, then innocent children need to be protected,” he said.

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