Meth - Child Abuse

How children living in drug labs are impacted ...

Children are trampled by meth. When they grow up in a home with a meth lab, they inhale volatile fumes and can be burned by the caustic chemicals used to manufacture meth. They live amid household garbage, domestic violence, sex and pornography; poor nutrition; weapons and booby traps. Raw materials used to make meth are stored throughout the house. They play outside where hazardous byproducts are dumped and burned. Some are locked in rooms for days at a time by parents who don’t want their kids to see them getting high on meth and then forget to let them out.

Health Effects

· Poor hygiene

· Malnourishment

· Respiratory ailments

Social Effects

· Toddler: Play violently

· Childhood: Isolated from mainstream society

· Adolescence: Focus on using and manufacturing drugs

Emotional Effects

· Insecure

· Withdrawn

· Low self-esteem

In response to this problem, Washington communities are forming interdisciplinary teams to identify the children at risk, implement response policies, and develop resources to appropriately meet the children's needs.

For more information and Web resources about Drug Endangered Children, please visit the DOH CDL Web Resources page, DEC.

Children Found at Methamphetamine Labs in the United States in 2002

Child Abuse

"'Last year, we had 228 children with a mean age of eight years old at about 800 meth labs statewide,' Wesley said. (Gia Wesley, area administrator of DSHS' Division of Children and Family Services) 'Children are living in or visiting about half the labs we investigate.'"
(County meth summit: drug problem impacts everyone, Everett News Tribune, January 16, 2002)

Last year SSB 6260, (see Bill Report) sponsored by Senator Marilyn Rasmussen passed both the Senate and House and was signed into law by Governor Locke.

This law provides a two-year sentence enhancement (in addition to the standard sentence) when children are present during the manufacturing of meth, or when a person is convicted of possession of ephedrine or Pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture.

The fact that this legislation passed with no dissenting votes, is a clear statement that there is a growing concern for children that live in this dangerous drug environment.

Last year, law enforcement officers removed 228 children, with a mean age of 8, from 831 meth-lab busts statewide.

"The mother told a social worker at the hospital that her son had been exposed to toluene and lye in a five-gallon bucket. The social worker overheard the mother tell medics the baby had gotten into chemicals from a meth lab." (Court lets drug dealer's sentence stad, The News Tribune, February 11, 2002)