As far as your sister feeling like she is denying her child of a father unless she drops the charges? She is not denying the child of a father, she is saving the child from possibly witnessing abuse. Children who are raised by parents that suffer abuse struggle THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. A child simply cannot understand yelling, fighting, abuse or if mommy turns to drugs and in so doing neglects that child.

I understand you LOVE your sister, but your sister HAS TO consider the child "first", and that includes you too. Your sister has to get help/therapy to stop using drugs, to understand the consequences both she and her child face by allowing an abusive relationship to continue and for her to get more involved with using drugs. If your sister is increasing her drug use, even though you love her and don't want to hurt her? Your only recourse is to report her so she can get help and as I mentioned the child is "safe" and doesn't end up suffering deep psychological challenges because of the bad choices the mother is making. You can even go read the many threads by individuals who suffered from a parent that was/is an alcoholic/addict in the Children of Alcoholics forum. Like I said, the hurt can last for a lifetime. If your sister is worried about her child and taking a chance? She is already doing that with her own drug use.