The Many Faces of Meth: A four-part series (Indiana)
Part III - Its effects on children
By Tim Young-Warrick Publishing Online
Editor's Note: This is the third in a four-part series of stories exploring the effects of methamphetamine on the people and culture of Warrick County.
The surge of methamphetamine usage among Warrick County residents not only leaves its damaging effects on its users and the neighborhoods in which it is produced, but on local children, who are typically too young to know what's going on.
Currently, Child Protection Services (CPS) of Warrick County has 62 wards that are in the care and custody of the department.
“At least 27 of the wards are directly drug-related,” said Judith Harper, director of CPS. “We are seeing more and more with meth (cases) than we have in the past. Meth, of course, is a problem here.”
The charges that outline the arrest records of many meth users often include neglect of a dependent.
If you would like to see the rest of this story or read Part 1 and 2, please go to the following url:
http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2006/04/20/warricknews/news/01meth.txt
“We need to realize... these are community problems and it takes all of us in the community to help solve them, as well as prevent them,” said Harper. “I don't think (people) are aware of how big a problem it is.”
With almost 50 percent of the caseloads at CPS reflecting drug usage, Harper said the most alarming trend is the amount of babies that are being born with illegal substances in their system.
Per state law, hospitals are required to notify CPS anytime a newborn is found with illegal substances in their body.
Other ways that CPS learns about children of neglect is through the interaction of family members, neighbors or local law enforcement.
“Most of the kids (that CPS takes custody of) are pretty young,” said Harper. “If someone calls us because they feel a child is being neglected...and we find out that (the parents) are using, those are usually pretty young children.”
Meth labs pose a strong danger to children, not only from inhaling the chemicals that are used in the manufacturing process, but reports across the nation have cited that children have been found crawling through needles and other precursors.
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