Pubdate: Fri, 26 Mar 2004 Source: Battle Creek Enquirer (MI) Copyright: 2004 Battle Creek Enquirer Contact: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/customerservice/contactus.html Website: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1359 Author: Trace Christenson, The Enquirer DRUG WAR IS ABOUT 'SAVING THE CHILDREN' Speakers Inform About Program to Help Kids Who Live With Methamphetamine Producers The drug war is about the kids, people attending a Battle Creek conference were told Thursday. "It is not about drugs, it is about saving the children," said Tim Ahumada, a narcotics detective from Phoenix, Ariz. Ahumada was one of several speakers who talked about a program targeted to help children who are living with adults manufacturing methamphetamine, a growing problem in western Michigan. Called Drug Endangered Children, or D.E.C., the program was begun in California and is practiced in several states, mostly in the west, according to Nancy Becker Bennett, manager of the law enforcement section of the Michigan Office of Drug Control Policy. She said the conference for more than 300 people was designed to explain the program and is a first step in perhaps bringing it to counties in Michigan. The conference was organized by the Michigan State Police, the Michigan branch of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Michigan Department of Community Health, which includes the state's Office of Drug Control Policy. Those attending came from law enforcement, education, medicine, social services and code enforcement from across Michigan, Becker Bennett said. It was held in Battle Creek because the majority of methamphetamine cases are in the western section of the state. Speakers included representatives of law enforcement, Child Protective Services, prosecutors and medical personnel. And they spoke about the impact manufacturing the drug can have on children. Meth is most often made in home laboratories -- some small enough to fit in a backpack -- with dangerous chemicals such as solvents and lye. Manufacturing the drug sometimes leads to explosions and fire and always results in residue of toxic chemicals. Often the children found in the homes during drug raids are shuffled off to other family members without knowing if the kids will really be out of danger, speakers said. Several speakers said social workers and police often have conflicts, yet both are interested in protecting the children and that is why D.E.C. was conceived. The program is designed not only to help free the children from households where drugs are being manufactured, but also to gather evidence that shows those making the drugs are guilty of child abuse. "Child endangerment is often overlooked," Ahumada said. But he said social workers and police have to learn to work together to make the program work. "This takes a case from being a victimless crime to putting a face on these crimes, and that is how you are going to save these kids," he said. Calhoun County Prosecutor John Hallacy attended the conference and said the impact on children living with meth labs has been a topic among prosecutors statewide. "It should be an enhancement in the penalties," he said. "Drug dealing is often violent, but meth is so different because it is so toxic." - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake