Opinion ID: 2382556
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Barbara's history

Text: Barbara was born in April 1988. As a child, she was exposed to parental substance abuse and was the victim of neglect and sexual and physical abuse. Barbara has a history of depression and suicidal behavior. As early as age six, Barbara threatened to kill herself. She attempted to commit suicide during her pregnancy with Michael and again when he was one year old. During a mental health assessment, she acknowledged that she had slit her wrists 7-8 times. At trial, she testified that she had attempted suicide [a] lot. Barbara also has a history of substance abuse. At 12, Barbara began drinking alcohol; by 14, she had used marijuana; by 15, she had used Percocet and crystal methamphetamine; and by 16, she had used cocaine. Between the ages of 14 and 16, Barbara obtained several substance abuse assessments that recommended that she participate in substance abuse treatment programs. She was discharged from her first treatment program because she had a sexual relationship with another client in the program. She finished a second treatment program but relapsed before she even got out of treatment, using cocaine during the final month. While pregnant with Michael, Barbara used marijuana regularly and did not stop until the eighth month of her pregnancy. She took methadone before and after his birth.