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. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek