MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) — With four babies born addicted to cocaine and their mother, 35-year-old Ora Boler, charged with reckless endangerment for the most recent child, now their grandmother is talking only to abc24's Jackie Orozco.
A Shelby County judge said it’s a growing problem having babies born addicted to crack cocaine and other drugs. Mary Boler said it's not her daughter's fault that she's addicted to drugs. Mary says she's tried to help Ora kick the habit but it just hasn't worked.
“I hate it, the fact that she was doing it. There was nothing I can do to stop it because once you get high, it's like a chain reaction, you got to keep going and going," Mary Boler told abc24 news.
Four out of Ora’s 6 kids were born addicted to cocaine, including her youngest, 2-month-old Marquette.
"I tried talking to her, letting her know what were the problems about it but she was grown and she knows exactly what she's doing because it's not the first one she had like that,” said Mary Boler.
Mary said Ora started using drugs more than a decade ago.
“She's not a bad girl. Ora is good as gold. She's just confused and she needs help,” Mary Boler said. “I also asked the judges every time I go to the courtroom if there is something that they could make it mandatory to get her tubes tied."
Judge Tim Dywer can't do that, so he sentenced Ora to take part in a new program that specifically helps mothers whose babies are born addicted to drugs. Psychologist Doctor Jamie Gray is involved in the program and says it works.
"In many cases they can turn their lives around and live more productive lives,” said Dr. Gray.
"I really hope it helps her to make her part of society again," said Mary.
Mary said her daughter Ora isn't the only mother abusing drugs and wants to warn other young mothers in the community.
"The only thing I can say is, ladies, if you're doing it you need to stop because my daughter is an example of what's going on in today’s society with crack cocaine."
The new drug program for mothers started in August 2011 and it's 18 months long. Judge Dywer said if a person does not go through the county's drug program there is an 80 percent chance he or she will be rearrested for the same drug offense.
