Drug abusers aren't safe parents

Conference hears of meth danger
Associated Press

CASPER - Drug abusers aren't safe parents, experts said Thursday at the Third Wyoming Methamphetamine Conference.

About 700 people gathered in Casper on Wednesday and Thursday for the conference. Specialists spoke about treatment, addiction and the drug's effect on children.

Dr. Kathryn Wells, a Denver pediatrician who specializes in child-protection issues, said meth users can't maintain a safe home environment for children. She said that's due in part to users' crashing phase, when they sleep for long periods of time as they're coming off the drug.


When users are sleeping, their children are left to fend for themselves, Wells said. And when parents finally awaken, their brains are depleted from their natural feel-good chemicals, she said. Depression ensues, prompting them to get their next fix.

Wells showed pictures of children who mistakenly grabbed baby bottles and soda bottles filled with byproducts of meth, some of which had been placed in refrigerators to cool after cooking sessions. She said one child was severely burned when hot liquid from stovetop meth production splashed.

Yet despite the highly addictive nature of meth, some former users at the conference said they have been able to put the drug behind them and get on with healthy lives.

Steve Dax and Angela Pomroy said they no longer use the drug and are now planning a June wedding.

Dax said that during his time as an addict, he once watched a friend die from an overdose. He said he did things he wouldn't tell a preacher.

But now, Dax said, he gets up every day looking forward to his job as a welder. He hugged Pomroy and said he couldn't wait to marry her.

Pomroy said drug court saved her life. She said the structure didn't let her get away with anything. She said she hopes that the fact she and Dax are able to live without the drug helps others overcome their addiction.

Some at the conference said faith can play an important role in helping people overcome meth addiction.

Jim Elias, director of Faith Initiatives of Wyoming, said his group has received federal grants to help with social problems, including helping young people with substance abuse.

Elias said his role is to support and educate churches and other faith-based and community groups on how they can help fight meth addiction. While he said his group doesn't maintain that everyone needs to be helped by a faith-based organization, it's there for those who want that chance.