The heartbreaking face of meth: drug endangered children

Compiled by Maggie Plummer

(editor's note: this is the second in an ongoing series of articles on various aspects of the methamphetamine problem.)

Methamphetamine abuse destroys families, and it's the children who suffer the most.

Parents who use meth become unable to parent and tend toward violent, rage-driven behavior - especially domestic violence and child abuse, according to the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). Meth-using parents often have extreme mood fluctuations, paranoia, depression, poor impulse control, bizarre behaviors, lack of attention to hygiene, and acute psychotic episodes.

Just a small amount of meth use by a mother tends to make her impatient and distracted. She may think she is a better mother because she is less tired and can get more done, but really this mother's thoughts speed up, causing her to snap at her kids and forget to put them to bed or feed them.

The more meth a parent uses, the more likely it is that no one gets the kids up for school, washes their clothes, buys groceries or takes them to the doctor. These children resort to scrounging for food and drinking out of the toilet.

One child victim of the meth environment was known to eat the dog food left outdoors for a neighbor's pet.

BJA presenters at the recent "Methamphetamine on Tribal Lands" training, held at KwaTaqNuk Resort, listed these risks faced by children of meth users and/or manufacturers:
     • exposure to explosive, flammable or toxic chemicals and ingredients;
     • access to meth, paraphernalia, loaded weapons and unsavory characters;
     • physical, emotional and sexual abuse;
     • extreme neglect;
     • problems in school performance and attendance;
     • delayed speech and language skills;
     • drug abuse; and
     • lack of boundaries, or too-easy attachment to strangers.

Children in meth labs are generally found filthy and neglected. Sometimes they have broken bones, chemical burns, rotten teeth, ear infections, and cockroach bites.

These are Drug Endangered Children (DEC) - defined as children suffering physical or psychological harm or neglect resulting from exposure to illegal drugs, to persons under the influence of illegal drugs, or to dangerous environments where drugs are being manufactured.

Most drug endangered children are "rescued" during law enforcement actions. In fact, a meth bust can be a defining moment in a young life.

According to law enforcement agencies, if ignored and unmonitored, these children will continue to be victims caught in a cycle of drug abuse.

Roughly 25 percent of the children removed from meth homes test positive for exposure to the drug. According to law enforcement reports, meth users sometimes resort to giving their children small amounts of the drug so that the little ones will stop whining and crying from hunger and tiredness, and go entertain themselves.

The chemicals used to make meth are flammable, and toxic, causing burns, lung damage, nausea, and headaches. Children from meth lab homes are known to show up at school confused, disoriented, and unable to concentrate.

Some of the by-products of meth labs are similar to the nerve gas that's used in warfare. Long-term effects of exposure to these chemicals include cancer, emphysema, nerve damage, liver and kidney damage.

The Good News
Across the U.S., DEC Teams are being developed to coordinate first responders, child protective services, law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, prosecutors, child advocates, and others to make sure that drug-endangered children receive appropriate care, quickly. Team members collect evidence, assess a child's health, and ensure safe care for the youngster.

The idea is to protect these youngest victims of what many call "the meth epidemic."

One section of the Polson BJA training focused on how to engage the community by forming partnerships to help these children.

The National Alliance for DEC, formed in October 2003, urges communities to build DEC teams. In more than a dozen states, DEC alliances have been formed, and last year more than 2,000 people across the nation received DEC training.

Every day, doctors, nurses, and emergency medical personnel treat drug endangered children. In order to recognize and properly care for such youngsters, they must be given thorough information about their unique symptoms and problems.

The DEC Alliance has set up a Medical and Scientific Research Working Group which coordinates research concerning drug endangered children. Any medical professional, scientist or research professional interested in participating in this working group is asked to send an e-mail listing contact information and area of interest to National.DEC@usdoj.gov.

Others interested in joining the National Alliance for DEC, or learning more about the organization, is encouraged to send a message to NationalDEC@usdoj.gov.