Can these drug-addicted mums break the cycle for their babies? | Four Corners
Thousands of babies are born exposed to their mother’s drug use each year in Australia.
Four Corners meets mothers who are addicted, and those who have been rehabilitated, to learn why they use drugs when pregnant. We also meet the children who have been impacted and speak to experts about how drug use and pregnancy impacts a child's health.
Four Corners investigates what is being done to address one of the hidden side effects of the national drug epidemic.
00:00: Intro: Using drugs when pregnant
1:50: Babies withdrawing from drugs
5:03: Residential rehab
8:21: Detoxing from cannabis and ice
10:15: Using ice while pregnant
16:14: Fighting the stigma
20:37: ‘I don’t want to hurt my baby’
23:53: A window of opportunity
26:52: The impacts on methamphetamines on children
31:15: Missing milestones
32:44: Living with pre-natal drug exposure
35:59: Child abuse
38:57: Breaking the cycle of addiction
This Four Corners documentary was originally broadcast as 'Breaking the Cycle' on August 14, 2023, on ABC TV and ABC iview.
Read more about the mothers in the documentary here: ab.co/454byI3
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I graduated from the institution that this was filmed in. The women in this documentary are so very brave for reaching out and asking for help. Bridgehaven saved my life!
Congrats and well done and all the very best to you! 🥰
Sending you all the best wishes for your future!
Congratulations, that is a huge accomplishment. You should be very proud of yourself.
The fact that these women have tried before and couldn’t stay clean without help, is very telling. They clearly wanted to be clean and EVERYONE needs support for the hardest things we’re facing.
I am a drug addict, but I used to have this morbid contempt against pregnant addicts. I didn't know better, most of them are just like me, struggling to get clean...
As an alcoholic it was INCREDIBLY hard to quit when I got pregnant. I managed to completely abstain but it was the hardest test of my willpower. I'm still staying sober and Its a challenge every day. Im lucky, I have a very supportive family and husband. Im also financially comfortable and have a stable home life. Addicts who aren't as lucky are going to have a much tougher time than me staying sober. I cannot judge these women. Unless youve had a severe addiction, you cant understand how difficult it is to quit even for your child. Its all consuming. It literally changes the chemestry of your brain and rational thought and awareness goes to sh*t.
More and more I see the seemingly unbreakable connection between Trauma and Addiction. Several of these women have said that their addiction was a side effect of some kind of earlier trauma. We should be looking at developing more available support programs for healing the trauma before it eventually becomes addiction.
That little baby Lockie is adorable. I was so happy for his mother that she managed to get through the rehab. Helping rather than undermining women in this situation. Is the better way to work.
I expected to come to the comments section to see people judging these women and I was very happy to see the support and understanding from so many. I'm a teacher and foster Mum and I've seen addiction at it's worse but I've also helped in the recovery. These women have taken a risk sharing their personal journey with us and they are an example of what can be achieved with the right support and no judgement.
I’m so pleased with the comments where people are understanding this is a health issue and not judging we have a long way to go but some of these comments warmed my heart. I’ve been where these women are and there is hope. #wedorecover
You are an awesome person! The world needs more of this. Much love from the States.
I got pregnant with my son literally 30 days into sobriety. God knew I needed that little boy. Hit 5 years clean this January and my little guy just turned 4.
The people working in the program are real angels and heros. Not many people could do this job
We need these places in the US as well
It’s easy to judge a pregnant mother that takes bad drugs but the fact that they are trying to get help for their own wellbeing and their babies, I definitely feel empathy for them. 🥺😢 Addiction would be tough, ❤️ Hope all the best for these mothers and their babies
It’s so true, society HAS to change the way they look at addiction. People who use are people that are in a lot of pain. Trauma is the cause, addiction is a side effect of trauma. Heal the trauma, heal the addict.
I've got a mad respect for all those ladies. And I hope there will be more places for coming back from addiction.
Addiction is a symptom of unresolved childhood trauma and other traumas until we look at it like that we are not going to get a handle on how to make things better.
As someone who had to overcome addiction, that fight is for real. Luckily, i had my daughters when i had been completely sober for a year, with my first, and I never looked back. But addiction is an everyday struggle, I am relieved that finally, health and mental health professionnals are really starting to see beyond the judgment and providing care and help to thosr who need it most ❤
No one understands the trauma or life events these ladies have experienced which lead to their addiction. They are so strong to ask for help and recover. Sending you strength ladies - you are amazing ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Where are the fathers 😮
I give massive props and kudos to these Mom's. Drug/Alcohol addiction isn't a choice once it becomes an addiction. It's a legitimate disease process. It changes the chemical structure of the brain itself. It takes a massive amount of determination and strength to battle and when you add in the past trauma's, it's nearly impossible to tackle alone. These women are actively trying to better themseles for their children and that is an incredible testimony to their love for their babies. Congratulations ladies, you are doing what you need to do for you and your children to ensure a better and more stable life! Keep it up! Take it a day at a time, and don't get caught up on the insignificant things like when people treat you poorly or make judgements against you. You are loved. You are importnant. You are special and you are powerful. God bless each of you.
Really want to Thank these Women for being so brave to be in this documentary. It surely will help others. It will encourage more understanding and support from all communities. Keep being Brave 😊 Also to hear Terri say how She used to feel about Herself, and to hear about how Terri feels about Herself now! Wow, That's what makes the difference, "Now I love myself" Thanks for Sharing such personal journey's. All of You are in My thoughts and prayers.
Lucky's hair is cute and hilarious! he is like a wolf boy and looks like he is wearing a wig. so crazy and very cute
Addiction is incredibly hard to beat, even with the motivation of your children. People are loosing limbs due to fentanyl, yet they keep taking it, that’s how hard addiction is to beat 😢 It’s easy for people to judge and to say just stop taking it. Until you experience addiction, you won’t understand. These woman need empathy, help and support, not harsh judgement. We need to make sure there are beds available at rehabs facilities, especially since the window of when addicts are willing to accept help, can be incredibly small. I imagine that there are very long wait lists to get into any rehab facility.
“Lockie’s my 8th.” 😳
The Stigma around addiction is a real problem in Australia. I even say Stigma is a barrier to people getting treatment and well. All those people on the internet making nasty comments are making the problem worse. People have a right to treatment and should not have fears in accessing it.
i feel that theirs no beating ice until we beat fentanyl because very few people buy pure ice anymore and they mostly get ice laced with Fentanyl
Why does Lockie have better volume in his hair than me lmao
A great piece of journalism from the Australian Broadcast Corporation. A big job well done for all the people involved within the production of this story.
Four Corners knocking it out of the park again. Thank you for sharing this important story
I hope that all of these women and children keep doing well. They're very strong.
I’m in my first trimester and I’m crying for these women and their struggles. I hope they are able to over come their addiction and live a healthy life.
The little guy with the hair is so cute! Hope he and mom are enjoying their new home and thriving.
Brice… Such an intelligent young man. That level of metacognition will serve him well in every situation in life.
Bryce is a very intelligent young man, thankfully he has a wonderful family that has guided him
Poor little darling babies!! 🥺😓😓
As a mother I want to congratulate these ladies for taking charge of their lives for their children. I’ve never had an addiction to drugs but I do smoke cigarettes. so I know what it feels like to crave something that you don’t have. I also know how it feels to put your children first as well. God bless these beautiful women on their sobriety and relationships with their children ❤❤❤
Thank you for bringing light to an important topic and sharing the individual stories of each and every one of these strong women.
Poor babies :( best idea is to never start using drugs. Easier said than done
Just so very sad 😢. I can only hope we do "grow up" as a society, and we focus on treatments to assist people with addiction, especially pregnant women.
We do recover ❤
Baby lockie has the best hair! He is so darn cute 👼🧸
That lil one is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. Well done mama on getting this far. ❤
My heart feels so proud of these women. Quitting is hard and your brain lies to you while in addiction. I hope they all persevere and give their babies an amazing life.
Addiction is not an individuals problem, it is a societal problem. We all need to hold ourselves individually accountable to create the change that we need collectively. Much love to anyone battling addiction - which if we are honest, is about 99% of society - social media / food / gambling / partying / booze / caffeine / adrenaline.....all addictions. Many are socially acceptable, encouraged even. Why are we so addicted? Trauma and the subsequent need for dissociation. Best wishes to all humans
Addiction is a disease we need to start helping the ones that want help.. I pray these women succeed ❤
Hope they create more helping programms like that especially as well for rural areas! Australia is so big and ice is massive in the tiny towns far off from Melb and Sydney
We need a complete support for both mothers and babies that go though this and a place where they can go received support and be away from the outside influences that can return them back to their addiction.
Fourty years ago i was visiting a large hospital/maternity section in Brisbane....the same problem then..babies born to mothers who had addictions...
Very proud of these women. I wish them every success and blessing 🙏
Brilliant! I wish all these people so much love and encouragement! Thank you for sharing your stories. I hope society grows up and gains empathy and more services are provided.
It is so important to show this kind of work. Not only because these women do everything to do the best for their children and it is amazing/brave, but becausd women in a similar situation see there is a way out without being judged and be with your child. Also it is important to highlight how important and needed this kind of work is. For mothers and, more importantly, their innocent children. Great work from everyone involved!
Fantastic journalism. It takes a village to raise a child and these women, Mothers and the Village, should be proud of themselves xo
This was a great documentary. It’s hard to break the cycle of addiction. I wish I could start up places like this to help. 😢lost many to addiction they need our help. We don’t know what awful things they have gone through.
Little Lockie, he's just so cute
What a wonderful program. And such brave mums.
good luck to all the mums and bubs. doing a great job! wow look at baby lockies rockstar hair! very cute
I wish there were more facilities like this for women and children that need it. I'm so blessed that there's still compassionate people out there with the heart in the right place. This cycle needs to be broken... Society should go above and beyond to save these little lives and their mothers. Fear and shame shouldn't be a factor when it comes to their unborn children. More help needs to come! Australia wake up!
That’s just so sad.
Very good program!! I learned a lot!!
I completely stopped everything drinking,&smoking cigarettes & bud ....it was hard...VERY HARD but I did it. . 🎉
We have to remove the stigma for addicted Mums. That's the first step to having healthy babies and healthy families.
So proud of these women for going into rehab to save themselves and their precious babies...There needs to be more free facilities like this in the world...More people would seek help if they're for free...God bless them all 🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️❤️
More power to these beautiful ladies
Brilliant insight into addiction 👏
Thank you very sad 😔 great documentary 🙏
Thank goodness for these services, hopefully the government can put more money into these organisations
GOOD JOB MAMAS! ❤ I was using everyday for 5 years, (meth) I fell pregnant and the minute I found out, I quit. She's 8 now, she's too smart for her own good 😂 ❤ it's a gift that keeps giving, sobriety is hard and a life long process, but for real, it's a wonderful experience and feeling. ❤❤
Well done, I’m so happy you beat your demons. It’s so hard but you overcame it and I hope you’re proud of yourself 🙂
Very good positivity well done to all
Lockie is adorable
Our children are our future.. god bless
I'm proud of them all doing what they have to do to get right for their babies 🙏🏽🙌🏽....That's a good start into the right direction.....I wish nothing but the best for them all.Their babies are so cute😉😘.....And lucky 😍😍🩵🩵 such a cutie pie ☺️
That beautiful boy. I'm amazed by his hair ❤
Very brave women to tell their stories. Addiction is a shocking disease I just hope one day we can get to a stage as a society that there is no more stigma. People won’t be judged and it will be looked at the same way as a broken arm.
I hope all these lovely ladies get help and get better 🤲
Cheering you ladies on!
That baby is the cutest ive ever seen omg
Dear God bless those babies
28:17 isn't she contradicting herself here? so meth exposure can be reversed in the right environment? the whole nature vs nurture thing cannot be determined because there are too many variables to say for certain. not understanding this woman's work at all.
This was absolutely fantastic. So well researched and put together.. and the interviews with the wonderful, honest, hopeful and brave Mums, and Mum's to be.. made it truly inspiring. What extraordinary people there are working on grass roots levels to do their effective everything.. with harm min being the goal. Grace navigated this beautifully, her name really suits her actually. I'm so proud of each and every one of these women.. and I believe in each and every one of them.. they deserve all the support, compassion and acceptance imaginable ❤️🩹
That little man with all the hair IS THE CUTEST FELLA EVER! ❤
Lockie looks like Elvis :)
It takes a village to create strength and positive results, instead of 'me' how about ' WE'
Locke is adorable with that hair!!! 😊
drug use is a symtom
very brave
I ❤ Loki. He's beautiful 😊😊
Lockie gorgeous❤ that head of hair…
I APPLAUD YOU PEOPLE!!😘👌
They've had rehab mother baby hones , so that the babies can stay with their mums for years. I don't believe that they say they don't have enough of these homes. I'm so sick of them demonizing carers.
Wonder what impact the lockdowns had
Stories of hope 🫶🏼🙏🏼💫