Pubdate: Thu, 30 Jun 2005
Source: Shelby County Reporter ( AL)
Copyright: 2005 Shelby County Reporter
Contact:  http://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2949
Author: Brandon Gresham, Reporter Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

OFFICIALS: METH IS A SERIOUS THREAT TO KIDS

In the whirlwind of drug busts, arrests and convictions that surround 
methamphetamines in Shelby County, consideration for one group of 
people has been brushed under the rug: children.

According to law enforcement officials from Alabama and Shelby 
County, children often fall victims to abuse and neglect because of a 
relative's involvement with the creation and trafficking of methamphetamine.

"Children are being held hostage in the midst of toxic chemicals and 
dangerous criminals," Alabama Attorney General Troy King said. 
"Alabama is suffering the tragic results of the rampant illegal 
mixing of hazardous substances to create methamphetamine."

Shelby County Sheriff Chris Curry agreed with King, saying he 
believes children are often overlooked as victims of meth crimes.

"What we're seeing with meth arrests in the county is that children 
are being exposed to highly volatile chemicals," he said.

Curry said that the first methamphetamine case he was involved with 
in the county was a perfect example of how often children fall victim 
to the drug.

"The meth lab that we broke up was located on the kitchen counter of 
a home in Calera," Curry said. "There were children living in the 
home as well and their breakfast was lying on the counter alongside 
the lab materials."

Curry said that in addition to being exposed to dangerous chemicals, 
many children are abused and mistreated as a result of a family 
member using the drug.

"Many people who manufacture methamphetamines are also users," he 
said. "Using meth can result in bizarre behavior and paranoia that 
can put a child near that person in danger."

The Alabama state legislature voted in May to restrict the 
distribution of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, over-the-counter 
medications that can be used to create meth, in hopes that such a law 
will help in the battle to rid the state of the drug. Alongside the 
pharmacy bill, Attorney General King also hoped to pass a bill that 
would crack down on people who put children in harm's way. The bill 
failed to pass, however.

"I regret that the legislature did not pass the bill that would have 
given tougher penalties for endangering children through exposure to 
methamphetamine labs," King said. "I promise the families of Alabama 
that I will lead law enforcement in using tools that we have to fight 
against the proliferation of methamphetamines and meth-related crimes." 
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