Pubdate: Mon, 28 Mar 2005
Source: Casper Star-Tribune (WY)
Copyright: 2005 Casper Star-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.casperstartribune.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/765
Author: Anthony Lane, Star-Tribune staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

EFFORT TO PROTECT CHILDREN GATHERS STEAM

Efforts in Wyoming to protect children from the damaging chemicals
released in the use and production of methamphetamine are gathering
momentum.

Last year a law went into effect making it a felony to knowingly allow
a child to be in a room, dwelling or automobile where methamphetamine
is "possessed, stored or ingested."

Gov. Dave Freudenthal recently convened the Wyoming Alliance for Drug
Endangered Children, a committee charged with developing a strategy
about what should be done with a child found to be living in the
presence of methamphetamine or other drugs.

Sgt. Brad Wnuk of the Casper Police Department described the
experience shared by many officers locally and across the nation of
walking into a house to investigate any of a number of complaints,
then seeing indications of methamphetamine use in the presence of children.

"Meth presence around the children is something we all dread," Wnuk
said.

The effects of being charged under the new methamphetamine
endangerment law can seem harsh -- children removed from their
parent's custody, the possibility of a considerable prison sentence.

Wyoming Attorney General Pat Crank has said that one aim of the new
committee is to make sure the state handles children who end up in
these situations in the best way possible.

With parents facing the possibility of seeing their children removed
from their homes, Wnuk said, perhaps some adults will be motivated to
handle their problem before passing it on.
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MAP posted-by: Derek