0:00:02 > 0:00:07This mother fed her baby methadone to try and hide her drug problem.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11She was jailed and her baby is in care.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13I miss my children.
0:00:13 > 0:00:17I have to live with what I've done.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22I hope they'll forgive me when they're older.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25Subtitles
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Subtitles
0:00:46 > 0:00:51In February 2010, Nia Wyn Jones was sentenced after...
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..the court found her guilty...
0:00:53 > 0:00:56..of mistreating her daughter by feeding her methadone.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59The mother-of-three was jailed for three years.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02The incident shook the local community.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05No-one believed a mother could do such a thing.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08But Nia Jones' story isn't unique.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Due to their drug addiction and their mental state...
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..mothers who use drugs don't look for help...
0:01:15 > 0:01:17..in case they lose their children.
0:01:21 > 0:01:26During her time in prison, Nia Jones was bullied...
0:01:27 > 0:01:30..because of what she did to her baby.
0:01:30 > 0:01:35She escaped from prison and, during that time, she spoke to Taro Naw.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Her life on drugs was full of deception...
0:01:38 > 0:01:41..and very bleak.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45I started smoking cannabis with him.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51I didn't realise he was putting heroin in the cannabis.
0:01:51 > 0:01:55I got up one morning feeling ill, with withdrawal symptoms...
0:01:55 > 0:01:58..and I didn't know what was going on.
0:01:58 > 0:02:03I had the habit by then. I wanted it at that point.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10This is the man she says forced her to take drugs.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Grant Yuill was jailed for eight years after being found guilty...
0:02:14 > 0:02:18..of putting methadone in his daughter's milk bottle.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21Aged 38, Yuill was also guilty of giving drugs...
0:02:21 > 0:02:24..to the baby's mother, Nia.
0:02:24 > 0:02:30He said he was going to bury me in the garden and set the house alight.
0:02:30 > 0:02:36He hit me as well so I was afraid of him because he was physical.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I thought I was safer staying with him...
0:02:39 > 0:02:43..because he threatened to do those things if I left.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46I didn't know where to get help.
0:02:46 > 0:02:51You're too embarrassed to tell your family that you're on heroin.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54You lie to avoid hurting them.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58The court heard Nia Wyn Jones, who lived in Caernarfon...
0:02:59 > 0:03:01..put the drug in her daughter's milk.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05The judge said the amount of methadone the baby was fed...
0:03:06 > 0:03:10..was the same as giving her a full bag of heroin each day.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Nia had two sons and was becoming more reliant on her partner.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Twice a day. Every morning and night.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21You can't survive without it.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26You're too ill to get the kids ready for school and cook...
0:03:26 > 0:03:28..and do normal things.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31It helps you function.
0:03:32 > 0:03:37You're the same person, but you can do the things you have to do.
0:03:38 > 0:03:42But Nia Jones' story isn't unique.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46It's hard to estimate how many mothers use drugs...
0:03:46 > 0:03:48..while they're pregnant.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50Jane - not her real name...
0:03:51 > 0:03:54..raised her children while addicted to heroin for years.
0:03:54 > 0:04:00I took it regularly. Three or four times a day.
0:04:00 > 0:04:06By the end, I got fed up with it and just took it once...
0:04:06 > 0:04:11..to sort me out and stop me getting ill.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16It's terribly addictive.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19If you don't take it, you're ill.
0:04:19 > 0:04:25You can't face the day without taking it.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29You spend your day looking for a fix...
0:04:29 > 0:04:33..which makes it difficult to go about your business.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35Otherwise you're ill.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40I've heard that heroin goes into the muscles...
0:04:41 > 0:04:44..and then methadone goes into the bones.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49When you're ill, it's worse.
0:04:49 > 0:04:55Basically, heroin is easier to come off than methadone.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00The only other choice for addicts is to try and come off the drug.
0:05:00 > 0:05:02A process called 'cold turkey'.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06You have goose pimples, you have cold sweats...
0:05:06 > 0:05:11..you have cramp in your stomach...
0:05:11 > 0:05:15..it comes out of... you vomit...
0:05:15 > 0:05:20..and it comes out of the bottom.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23You get pains in your legs and hands.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26It feels very dirty.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33According to Welsh Government statistics...
0:05:33 > 0:05:38..after alcohol, heroin is the drug which is used most.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40Between 2010 and last year...
0:05:40 > 0:05:46..drugs agencies dealt with 5,000 cases relating to heroin.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Sian - not her real name - is a mother of two children.
0:05:52 > 0:05:57Like Jane, she didn't have money, so raising children and finding...
0:05:57 > 0:05:59..the next fix was difficult.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03She fell in with the wrong crowd.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06I was mixing with people older than me.
0:06:06 > 0:06:11I saw them smoking it and it was something new so I tried it.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13I became addicted.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18How old were you?
0:06:16 > 0:06:18Sixteen or seventeen.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20Sian has two children.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Across England and Wales...
0:06:23 > 0:06:27..it's estimated that 20,000 to 30,000 children are raised...
0:06:28 > 0:06:31..by families where both parents are addicted to drugs.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35For those with experience, the appeal is obvious.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38It starts before you take the stuff.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42You feel like you've got the flu, you're aching all over...
0:06:42 > 0:06:47..but once you've taken it you feel relaxed and happy.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51It's like taking a medicine to feel better.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55I had to shop-lift to pay for it.
0:06:57 > 0:07:03Nia didn't steal to buy drugs. She had other problems.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07After being addicted to heroin, she became reliant on methadone.
0:07:07 > 0:07:13She was also trying to raise two children, but things got worse.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17He was getting methadone but I wasn't, so he gave me methadone.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20I had lost weight, my periods had stopped...
0:07:21 > 0:07:25..and I found out I was pregnant after I was five months gone...
0:07:25 > 0:07:29..so it was too late to have an abortion.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31When I was in hospital...
0:07:31 > 0:07:36..he said the only way to keep the children from social services...
0:07:36 > 0:07:42..was to feed her methadone so that she didn't have withdrawal symptoms.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47No-one knew Nia was on methadone while she was pregnant.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49When her daughter was born...
0:07:49 > 0:07:54..she was worried the baby would crave the drug...
0:07:54 > 0:07:57..and Grant Yuill told her she should put methadone...
0:07:58 > 0:07:59..in the child's milk.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01I felt guilty.
0:08:01 > 0:08:06When she had a temperature, you just wanted her to be alright.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10She was crying for it, in a way, by the end.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15I tried to tell the nurse on the day she was born...
0:08:15 > 0:08:17..but Grant walked into the room.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21He walked in at that point.
0:08:23 > 0:08:28After being fed methadone in her milk, the girl became ill.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31She was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd three times.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35On her last visit, a nurse noticed that the milk was green...
0:08:36 > 0:08:38..and contained methadone.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I took her to hospital when she had bronchitis...
0:08:41 > 0:08:45..and they noticed that the milk was a different colour.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48He wasn't there at the time.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52The social worker at the hospital called me to one side...
0:08:52 > 0:08:54..and I admitted everything.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56She called the police.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01They told me to call Mam to pick the other children up.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04There was so much deception surrounding the case...
0:09:05 > 0:09:08..Yuill was sending methadone to his partner in hospital...
0:09:09 > 0:09:12..in a teddy which was put on a bus.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15He also decided how much methadone to give.
0:09:15 > 0:09:19He came down on the bus to get methadone from Caernarfon...
0:09:19 > 0:09:23..and then put it in a bottle.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28He used a Zippy from Rainbow, he put the bottle inside...
0:09:28 > 0:09:32..and gave it to the bus driver to bring down.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35The bus driver didn't know what was in it.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Due to the serious concern for the baby's health...
0:09:39 > 0:09:41..she was taken from her mother.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Nia Jones says the strength of the drugs...
0:09:44 > 0:09:49..meant she didn't realise how serious the situation was.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52I didn't realise what I was doing.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55I just... I don't know.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58You don't think the same when you're on drugs...
0:09:58 > 0:10:01..and being influenced by someone else.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04You don't think about the implications.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10But even among other mothers who are drug addicts...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13..there isn't much sympathy for what Nia did.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17If she does that, whet else is she capable of?
0:10:17 > 0:10:22There are a lot of people who have their children taken away...
0:10:22 > 0:10:24..and they don't harm their children.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28It wouldn't be fair for her to keep her child.
0:10:28 > 0:10:34If she hadn't had the baby, she wouldn't have done this.
0:10:34 > 0:10:41Methadone can kill people who aren't used to it...
0:10:41 > 0:10:47..so she shouldn't have given methadone...
0:10:47 > 0:10:49..to her baby.
0:10:50 > 0:10:55For me, she was foolish to give it to the baby.
0:10:55 > 0:11:01I feel for her, but she should have asked for help.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Nia Jones was jailed for three years...
0:11:14 > 0:11:16..for feeding her baby methadone.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19She was bullied in prison and she escaped.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23During that time, she spoke to Taro Naw.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Her daughter has been adopted...
0:11:25 > 0:11:29..and her two other children live with a relative.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Nia Jones says she misses her daughter...
0:11:32 > 0:11:35..who is now almost three.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Yes.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40The boys miss her as well.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45She might not remember, but the boys remember.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49The boys blame themselves, in a way.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Social services say they blame themselves.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58That's why they're having counselling as well.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03There is increasing concern among those in the medical field...
0:12:03 > 0:12:07..that more girls on heroin or methadone are having babies.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12They even have specialist midwives in Wales...
0:12:12 > 0:12:18..to help addicts make sure they have a successful pregnancy.
0:12:18 > 0:12:23It's very dangerous to take heroin during...
0:12:25 > 0:12:26..a pregnancy.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30We don't know how much heroin...
0:12:30 > 0:12:34..is in the bags of heroin.
0:12:34 > 0:12:39We don't know what the heroin is mixed with.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43A lot of things are mixed with heroin.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46At Singleton Hospital in Swansea...
0:12:46 > 0:12:52..there are antenatal classes for drug-users once a week.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55The aim is to make sure that specialists are available...
0:12:55 > 0:12:58..to step in if necessary.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03It's important for a mother to come to the clinic...
0:13:04 > 0:13:10..because they receive specialist antenatal support.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14We work with people like social services...
0:13:15 > 0:13:20..because the girls are worried they'll lose their child.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23It's important to come to the clinic...
0:13:23 > 0:13:26..so that we can work together...
0:13:26 > 0:13:29..with social services, in particular.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33That's a big problem for pregnant women who are taking drugs.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Some social workers are fine, but others are quite judgemental.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41They speak down to you.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44How much do you blame yourself?
0:13:44 > 0:13:49I know I'm to blame and I should have found help.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52But you don't think like that.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56I can't change it now. It's happened.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58Following a request from Taro Naw...
0:13:58 > 0:14:00..under the Freedom of Information Act...
0:14:01 > 0:14:04..the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board has revealed...
0:14:04 > 0:14:08..that nine babies were born to mothers addicted to heroin...
0:14:08 > 0:14:11..mothers like Sian and Jane, within the last year.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16During the same period, 77 were born to mothers like Nia Jones...
0:14:16 > 0:14:18..who were addicted to methadone.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22During the same year, 19 babies were placed in council care...
0:14:22 > 0:14:25..because their mothers were addicted to drugs.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28According to one expert...
0:14:28 > 0:14:31..mothers shouldn't worry too much about that.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35I don't think it's the norm for someone to lose a child...
0:14:35 > 0:14:37..if they're still using drugs.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40It's possible to work with parents...
0:14:40 > 0:14:45..to try and make sure the child is safe and minimise the risk.
0:14:45 > 0:14:50Of course, with some parents, it's best if the child isn't there.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53But that's not necessarily what will happen with everyone.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Some people can be good parents.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Only a minority of babies who are born to mothers...
0:15:00 > 0:15:03..who are addicted to heroin or methadone...
0:15:03 > 0:15:06..are placed in the care of social services.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Although it's difficult, most of the mothers...
0:15:09 > 0:15:12..many of them single parents, try to carry on.
0:15:13 > 0:15:18It was hard getting up with them in the morning and feeling ill...
0:15:18 > 0:15:21..and knowing I'd have to find money somewhere...
0:15:21 > 0:15:23..in order to feel better...
0:15:24 > 0:15:26..and have more patience with the children.
0:15:26 > 0:15:32I didn't have the patience to do anything, but I had to carry on.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37It was difficult because people saw me going to these places...
0:15:37 > 0:15:40..to get the stuff and so on.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43So people were talking and hearing things.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46It was difficult to hide it.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51I kept constant contact with my children...
0:15:51 > 0:15:56..even though I was a heroin addict.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59So you were using heroin...
0:15:59 > 0:16:03..but you had enough control to bring up your children?
0:16:04 > 0:16:08When I wasn't, I'd take them to my aunt.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12My aunt has done a lot for me.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Was there a point where you felt...
0:16:15 > 0:16:17..you couldn't cope with two children?
0:16:18 > 0:16:22When I was ill, when I had days when I was ill...
0:16:22 > 0:16:25..I'd send the children to my aunt's house...
0:16:25 > 0:16:30..and she'd look after them until I sorted myself out.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Although the information Taro Naw received...
0:16:33 > 0:16:37..under the Freedom of Information Act from the health boards...
0:16:37 > 0:16:41..wasn't complete, it was obvious that most mothers...
0:16:41 > 0:16:45..who are addicted to drugs are allowed to keep their children...
0:16:45 > 0:16:49..and that many of them receive help from their families.
0:16:49 > 0:16:55I'd say we understand that they feel guilty if they take drugs...
0:16:55 > 0:16:57..while they're pregnant.
0:16:57 > 0:17:03We want to ensure that everyone works together.
0:17:03 > 0:17:07Some can't stop using...
0:17:07 > 0:17:11..and we have to say we can work with them...
0:17:11 > 0:17:16..to ensure that the baby is healthy when it's born.
0:17:18 > 0:17:24We also have to say that social services, in particular...
0:17:24 > 0:17:27..that we can work with them...
0:17:27 > 0:17:33..to ensure that babies aren't taken away by social workers.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35It's difficult to find facts...
0:17:35 > 0:17:38..about how many children are taken into care...
0:17:38 > 0:17:42..but through another request under the Freedom of Information Act...
0:17:42 > 0:17:47..we found out from Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board...
0:17:47 > 0:17:50..that 74 babies were born to mothers on methadone...
0:17:50 > 0:17:52..during the last two years.
0:17:52 > 0:17:5755 of them went home with their mothers and 19 went into care.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02This woman is a lecturer in social work at Bangor University.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04Every decision is made...
0:18:04 > 0:18:07..based on the circumstances of each individual case.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12The assessment will look at the concerns of the family...
0:18:12 > 0:18:14..the needs of the child...
0:18:14 > 0:18:17..what kind of support the mother has...
0:18:17 > 0:18:20..and what kind of services are available.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24A decision will be made on how to move forward.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29Fiona Macdonald is educating the social workers of the future...
0:18:29 > 0:18:32..people who will have to work closely with parents...
0:18:32 > 0:18:36..and particularly mothers, who are addicted to heroin or methadone.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41Emergency steps can be taken by the police or social services...
0:18:42 > 0:18:44..with the support of court orders.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48But if the situation isn't as serious as that...
0:18:48 > 0:18:52..they'd look at what kind of support they could offer.
0:18:52 > 0:18:56Do they need support workers to work with the family?
0:18:56 > 0:18:59Do they need to be referred to external agencies?
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Does the child need to go to a nursery?
0:19:03 > 0:19:08Anything that could help the family to cope better.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12After realising they were in danger of losing their children...
0:19:12 > 0:19:17..because they couldn't cope with being mothers who took drugs...
0:19:17 > 0:19:19..some were looking for support.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22I went to them myself and asked for help.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26I was fed up of being ill every day...
0:19:26 > 0:19:30..looking for money and being arrested and fined all the time.
0:19:30 > 0:19:35I struggled and fought because I didn't want to lose my children.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38There are a lot of people out there...
0:19:38 > 0:19:40..who have lost their children.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44I know people who haven't been able to cope with it.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48But Nia Jones took a different path.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Her decisions and attitude led to three years...
0:19:53 > 0:19:57..in a prison and hostel and destroyed her family.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00I tried to commit suicide in the hostel.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03I took a lot of paracetamol.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07But the doctor didn't believe I'd tried to commit suicide...
0:20:07 > 0:20:09..because my liver was fine.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13The hostel manager said I'd done it for attention.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18The help wasn't there. They didn't want to know why I'd done it.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21She shouted at me for causing trouble.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25She feared for her safety in Styal Prison because other prisoners...
0:20:26 > 0:20:31..wanted revenge when they heard she'd given her baby methadone.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34I was bullied at Styal.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37I thought it was alright.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42I was recalled for 28 days for going out for a drink...
0:20:42 > 0:20:47..and they took me back to Styal and I was bullied there.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51I'm willing to go to New Hall, but not Styal...
0:20:51 > 0:20:54..because I'd have to live in fear there.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58What do the bullies do?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58They see you as a paedophile.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03If you've done anything to children, that's what they class you as.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08In Styal, I was frightened to leave my cell to eat.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10There is little provision for mothers...
0:21:10 > 0:21:13..who are addicted to heroin or methadone...
0:21:13 > 0:21:15..and looking to the future...
0:21:15 > 0:21:18..especially in the current economic climate...
0:21:18 > 0:21:20..it's hard to see things improving.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24However, there is a glimmer of hope.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28We're very lucky in Wales because the Government prioritises...
0:21:28 > 0:21:30..and tries to develop services...
0:21:30 > 0:21:33..for people with drug and alcohol problems.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37It's not possible to say that there are enough resources...
0:21:38 > 0:21:40..because you always need more and more.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45Nia Jones left prison after being bullied...
0:21:45 > 0:21:48..but has now returned there voluntarily.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52However, before returning, she said she knew it was possible...
0:21:52 > 0:21:55..that she'd never know her daughter.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I have to live with what I did.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02Obviously, I don't know if her adoptive parents...
0:22:02 > 0:22:05..will tell her about the circumstances.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10In the end, it's up to her if she wants to find me.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13I haven't got the option of finding her.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I've made her a memory box...
0:22:16 > 0:22:19..so that she can try and understand what happened.
0:22:20 > 0:22:21Family photos and so on.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Do you want her to find you?
0:22:23 > 0:22:25Yes. It would be nice.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29It would be nice to tell her my side properly...
0:22:29 > 0:22:33..because not all the things in the papers were true.
0:22:55 > 0:22:57S4C subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:22:58 > 0:22:58.