One of my readers, R., is planning to adopt from Kazakhstan as a single parent. She's been going through a stressful time lately, and has been taking an anti-depressant for a couple of months.
R. heard that Kazakhstan does not allow for any history of taking anti-depressants. R. writes:
Now I am really worried that I may have just ruined my chances of adopting from Kaz.
What should I do? If it’s only been a couple of months, can I just get off the medication and ask the social worker to not mention it in my dossier so I can adopt?
What do people typically do in this situation?
R: You may be surprised at how many people ask this question. You're not alone in wondering whether your use of an anti-depressant may hinder your chances of adopting.
Each country from which people adopt has its own set of rules and regulations. Some of them play fast and loose with the regulations; others adhere to them like glue. And, of course, the adoption regulations in many countries change faster we can keep up with them.
Your best course of action is to find an adoption agency or adoption professional that specializes in adoptions from Kazakhstan and ask them about the current regulations regarding anti-depressant use.
If you're considering adopting from Kazakhstan, join a support group or discussion group (either online or in your community) of parents who have adopted from that country and pepper them with questions. Parents who have recently adopted from a particular country are some of the best resources you'll find for gathering information.
After you've selected an agency to work with, be sure to disclose your use of anti-depressants. Your caseworker will help you determine what options are available to you.
Readers, please chime in with your advice! Would especially love to hear recommendations for online Kazakhstan support/discussion groups.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I know that taking antidepressents was my concern when we adopted from Kazakhstan in 2005/2006. I had been off them for a while and so the doctor and social worker didn’t mention them in my history.
However, I wouldn’t recommend coming off of them until talking to your doctor, because he/she put you on them for a good reason. Your mental well-being is important and if they help you stay well, then you want to stay on them as long as the doctor recommends.
I would talk to different agencies doing Kazakhstan adoptions and find out whether this country is an option for you. I know they’ve gotten stricter over the years and some regions don’t even allow singles to adopt from them. We love our daughter, but Kazakhstan has become an extremely difficult country to adopt from in recent years.
I recommend getting all of these questions answered before giving money to any agency. There are countries out there that you can adopt as single mom on antidepressants.
One of my Twitter tweeps sent me a link to a book titled, “Adoption for Singles 2008-2009.”
http://www.adoptionforsinglesbook.com/
It contains a directory of 180 countries and their policies on adopting for singles.
Laura
I am currently taking medication to manage hyperthyroidism. It seems like a minor health issue to me, but is it enough to keep me from adopting a child from Kazakhstan?
I was once wrongly prescribed an anti-depressant by my doctor, where all I needed was a good night’s sleep. I did not even take the drugs, but because it was on my medical record it was a thorn in my side for Kaz adoption. My remedy was to change doctor immediately, so the new doc had no record of the anti-depressent. I got the new doc to complete the medical form for Kaz.
I am perplexed by how this could be an issue, but why not just go to a new doctor and not mention that you are on antidepressants? Or why not talk to your doctor about the stupid regulations and see if he will keep it out of the records you send? It’s nobody’s business what medication you take, and it’s completely absurd that the government in Kazakhstan or any other country would presume anything about you based on what legal drugs you take. If they have some idea of a perfect picture of who should adopt, then tell them what they want to hear.