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My sister received an unexpected visit from Child Protective Services a few years ago, on the report that she had drugs in the house, and was a frequent drug user. The caseworker was very nice, and after talking to my sister for a while intimated that these kinds of things happen a lot - sometimes the accusations are true, but often they're not, and are just issued to scare people, or get back at someone in the most horrible way possible. The fear of losing your child is terrifying.
Still, they have to investigate, because if the accusation is true, then they've got to step in. If it isn't, their time is wasted. The CPS caseworker said she could tell my sister wasn't a "junkie" (as it was quoted in the report) just by the state of her home. For what it's worth, my sister works in a hospital, is subject to regular drug testing, and is clean as a whistle. She doesn't even drink!
In my sister's case, it was her ex-husband's wife who called CPS and made the accusation, she found out later. It makes sense, as the woman is terribly insecure and controlling, and has often tried to get at my sister through the kids.
But Cary is right - it does spark outrage. The fact that there are people who could be so callous and cruel as to get the state involved over something so petty and, well, childish... it's simply outrageous.
