Pubdate: Fri, 10 Oct 2003
Source: Knoxville News-Sentinel (TN)
Copyright: 2003 The Knoxville News-Sentinel Co.
Contact:  http://www.knoxnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/226
Author: CLIFF HIGHTOWER

'SCOURGE' OF METH AFFLICTING STATE'S CHILDREN, AGENCIES SAY

Law-enforcement officers and social workers told a Tennessee legislative 
oversight committee Thursday that methamphetamine is almost a statewide 
problem.

"Methamphetamine is a scourge in our state," said Richard Littlehale, 
special agent and legal adviser for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The General Assembly's Select Committee on Children and Youth held about a 
2 1/2-hour hearing at the Moses Center of the Boys and Girls Club on 
Carrick Street in Knoxville to learn about the growing meth problem and its 
effect on children.

The seven-member committee includes state Rep. Richard Montgomery, R-Sevier 
County, and state Rep. Russell Johnson, R-Loudon County.

Peggy Bratcher, a social worker for the state Department of Children's 
Services in the upper Cumberland Plateau region, said the problem is almost 
out of control.

"We're out of foster homes," she said. "We're running out of them so very 
quickly."

In the upper Cumberland region alone, she said, 123 children were removed 
from homes last year because of parental meth use.

So far this year, they have removed 148 children from homes because of 
meth, she said.

"Sex abuse was one of our biggest problems until meth came through the 
door," Bratcher said.

Lt. Gary Price of the Knoxville Police Department testified that Knoxville 
has not seen the amount of usage or labs that other jurisdictions have 
seen. Knoxville police have busted one meth lab within the city in the last 
two to three years, he said.

What Knoxville police have seen, though, is a rise in the theft of 
ingredients that help make the product, especially Sudafed, which has 
ephedrine, an essential ingredient in meth, Price said.

"We're about two years behind everyone else," Price said. "When the crack 
cocaine phenomenon came on in other cities, it took us about two years to 
experience the same problems."

While the drug may not be a huge problem in Knoxville, surrounding counties 
are having problems with it.

Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Attorney's office in Knoxville announced 34 
people including many East Tennesseans had been indicted for several drug 
charges. They face charges that include conspiracy to distribute 
methamphetamine.

Over the last two months, at least eight meth labs have been busted in the 
region. More than 35 have been raided over the last year in East Tennessee.

Law-enforcement officers say the problem is mostly rural, but it will only 
be time before it spreads into urban areas.

Littlehale testified there has already been an increase in the drug at rave 
parties, dances that are held all night and can include heavy drug usage.

"We're finding that people who attend rave dances are going from their 
usual drug of choice - Ecstasy - to meth," he said.

Bratcher said the drug is tearing families apart.

It is hard for Children's Services to take children out of these situations 
as well, because the law favors keeping children with their parents, she said.

When asked by state senators if she believed more legislation and harsher 
penalties could help get children out of households that make meth labs, 
Bratcher said children only want to be with their parents.

"I haven't seen a child yet that doesn't want to go home," she said. "It's 
a very strong bond to break."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart