Doctors call for more focus on meth kids (Washington DC)

By Raam Wong
Stephens Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON --- Two weeks after Congress moved to crack down on methamphetamine cooks, pediatricians urged lawmakers Monday not to forget about children, "the silent victims" of the drug.

About a third of the busts of home meth labs include children, who are often found hungry, filthy and living in environments so toxic that authorities have to wear respirators and Hazmat suits as they lead them out.

Their teddy bears and other toys, coated with noxious chemicals, have to be left behind.

"What I saw was neglect beyond anything I had ever seen," said Penny Grant, a pediatrician who responded to meth cases in Tulsa, Okla. "These kids had not seen the inside of a bathtub in weeks."

The purpose of Monday's meeting on Capitol Hill was to brief congressional aides on the ravages of meth on families. Meth is a highly addictive stimulant that can lead to paranoia, crime and violence.

Several participants said children stuck in meth households had received scant attention from lawmakers focused on passing legislation that limits the sale of pseudoephedrine used to cook the drug.

http://www.arkansasnews.com/archive/2006/03/21/WashingtonDCBureau/335077.html