Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jun 2005
Source: News-Enterprise, The (KY)
Copyright: 2005 News-Enterprise
Contact:  http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1663
Author: Erica Walsh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

CHILDREN SUFFER VARIOUS PROBLEMS FROM EXPOSURE TO METH LABS

At a recent meth lab bust in Hardin County, Detective Chris Thompson 
was serving a search warrant when a man came out the back door of a 
home and tossed ingredients used to make methamphetamine under an air 
conditioning unit.

The chemicals were sucked into the ventilation system, sending fumes 
into the home.

Inside, directly in front of the air conditioner and absorbing the 
potentially deadly chemicals, were two children under 12 years old.

As methamphetamine labs pop up around the country, another trend also 
is on the rise. Children are now being exposed to meth and its toxic 
chemicals at an alarming rate as parents manufacture the drug in their homes.

In Hardin County, law enforcement officers have discovered around 25 
meth labs this year. During the busts, about 15 children, all 12 
years old or younger, have been found near the labs, said Thompson, 
of the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force.

Last year, 18 meth labs were busted. No children were involved.

"It used to be people did this in secrecy," he said. "They do it 
around their family now, their children. It's sad."

More than 100 Kentucky children have been removed from homes 
containing meth labs, said Holly Hopper, a health associate with the 
University of Kentucky Health Education through Extension Leadership 
program. She also serves as the coordinator of the Kentucky Alliance 
for Drug Endangered Children.

Children may be aware that something is going on when their parents 
are making meth, but they do not know the details or the danger they are in.

"They know, but I don't think they know it's illegal or that it will 
hurt them," Thompson said.

Children interviewed by the task force reported that they noticed 
funny smells or saw their parents crush pills.

But not being involved doesn't prevent them from being in harm's way. 
Once meth is made in a home, the toxic gases created in the process 
infiltrate everything in the home, including food.

"Every surface in that house is contaminated," Hopper said.

A survey from the 2004 National Drug Endangered Children Conference 
found that of 97 children from 37 different meth labs, 23 percent 
tested positive for meth, 33 percent showed developmental delays and 
51 percent were determined to have been neglected or abused.

Neglect is one of the most common problems found in homes where meth 
labs are present, Hopper said. It also can lead to older children 
becoming involved in the "cooking" process.

"Children quickly learn the priority of the parents is the drug," she 
said. "They're either going to be required to join in or will join in 
because they realize that's the only way to spend quality time with 
mom and dad. It's fostering the next generation of drug-using criminals."

Thompson said in his experience about 50 percent of parents arrested 
in meth lab busts are concerned with the welfare of the children, but 
the other 50 percent are more concerned with themselves.

"At the time, they're more scared they got caught," he said. "Later 
on, sure, they get their head on straight, but if they were really 
worried about their kids, they wouldn't be cooking it in their house 
to begin with."

So far, none of the children removed from homes with meth labs in 
Hardin County have been involved with the drug-making process, Thompson said.

But even infants can be unknowing participants. Thompson has heard of 
instances where parents will hide stolen meth ingredients in a 
child's stroller to smuggle them out of a store.

Of the children found in homes with labs in the task force's region, 
there have been some who have contracted liver problems because of 
exposure to chemicals used to make meth.

"They're going to have problems down the road," Thompson said.

According to a methamphetamine education program designed by the 
Putnam County (Tenn.) Health Department and law enforcement agencies, 
children who are exposed to methamphetamine labs can develop various 
health problems. One pound of meth creates seven pounds of toxic waste.

Short-term health effects include skin and eye irritation, breathing 
problems, headaches, nausea, chemical burns and lack of coordination.

Long-term effects include delayed speech and physical development, 
and damage to the liver, lungs, kidney, spleen and brain.

"It just depends on what they absorb," Thompson said.

While there are no statewide or countywide reports on the kinds of 
medical problems exposed children are experiencing, Hopper said a 
significant amount of anecdotal evidence exists.

Children, teachers and neighbors have reported some effects of the 
exposure. Hopper said teachers have reported cases where exposed 
children will sleep in class for several days and then for the next 
few days be bouncing off the walls.

The issue is also placing stress on the foster care system, Hopper 
said. When children are found at a home with a lab, they are taken 
from the parents and turned over to social services.

If a parent can overcome an addiction, families can be put back 
together as long as the children are in a safe environment, Thompson 
said. The problem is that most parents' addictions overpower their 
intention to take care of their kids.

The H.E.E.L. program also trains social workers, police, teachers and 
emergency responders how to recognize signs that a child has been 
exposed to a meth lab, Hopper said.

Thompson hopes eventually to travel to local schools to educate 
children about the dangers of methamphetamine and how to detect if 
the drug is being manufactured in their home.

"We're going to have to teach them," he said. "We're going to have to 
take a defensive approach as well as an offensive approach. The 
problem is here."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth