New Jersey Division of Youth & Family Services v. Y.N.

The opinion of the court was delivered by

GUADAGNO, J.S.C. (temporarily assigned).

Y.N. (Yvonne)2 appeals from the Family Part’s July 1, 2011 order, following a fact-finding hearing, that determined she abused or neglected her infant son, P.A.C. (Paul). Paul suffered severe withdrawal symptoms after birth, caused by Yvonne’s use of methadone during the last month of her pregnancy. Yvonne argues that she obtained the methadone from a “legitimate program providing assistance from withdrawal,” and such use cannot serve as a basis for an adjudication of abuse or neglect. She also claims that a…