Pubdate: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 Source: Tullahoma News (TN) Copyright: The Tullahoma News 2003 Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=49033&BRD=1614&PAG=461&dept_id=161070& Website: http://www.tullahomanews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2031 Author: Wayne Thomas METH HURTS KIDS Following a recent intense statewide conference on the problems dealing with methamphetamines, figures show that 25 children in Franklin County have been removed their families by law enforcement and the Department of Child Services. According to Cindy Kilpatrick of the Department of Child Services (DCS), from January to November of this year, the department has taken custody of 78 children this year in the county and of that number, 25 were removed from homes where meth was being produced. "There have been some children who were removed but were placed with relatives, rather than us taking them," Kilpatrick explained. She stated that during the same period, DCS received information of 124 children possibly being in danger from methamphetamine production. "All total, we have had 276 cases involving a number of incidents, " Kilpatrick stated. Kilpatrick presented a program on "Life of meth referral" and what constitutes protective services, during the meth conference presented in Nashville to the more than 500 attendees, which included judges, medical personnel and law enforcement. Three employees of Southern Tennessee Medical Center, Lynn Myer, Buffy Peterson and Faye Jernigan-also attended the conference along with Estill Springs Police Chief David Cook, Winchester Public Safety Director Dennis Young and Maggie Posey from the Department of Child Services along with Robert Baggett and Beth Foster-Smith of the Franklin County Juvenile Court. Representatives of law enforcement, the hospital and DCS are working on a panel formed called Drug Endangered Children (D.E.R.). According to the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Tennessee is second in the nation for the number of meth labs confiscated, with 724 in 2002, 525 in the first six months of 2003, and 1,154 labs found in the fiscal year of 2003 which ended Sept. 1. According to figures released during the conference, Franklin County is the number one producing county for methamphetamines. U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp called the meth problem "the moonshine of our generation, but I would say times 100. People lived through the moonshine problem. They're not living through the meth problem." Meth has also been called "the poor man's cocaine." Young stated that during the conference, a number of pictures taken at various methamphetamines labs around Franklin County were displayed during the conference. "It was kind of embarrassing to be walking around and people would come up to you and tell us that we had a real problem with methamphetamines," Young said. "But they talked about our Town Meetings." Young stated that there are plans are being made to hold another Town Meeting after the first of year. He said the meeting would focus on the effects methamphetamines have on the family and children. The Public Safety Director noted that when he and Chief Cook, along with the DCS workers and representatives of the hospital explained to those who asked how they are battling the meth problem here in Franklin County, they stated that they are taking a "proactive approach to the problem." He also explained that law enforcement is working in partnership with DCS. "We were told that the state DCS does not have enough foster parents to handle the children who are removed from homes," the public safety director said. Young explained that while Franklin County has the largest number of meth labs, "we probably have the most of certified methamphetamines lab technicians for a rural county. Those who are qualified to handle the removal of components the labs are Winchester Police Sgt. Danny Mantooth and Investigator Billy Anderson along with Franklin County Sheriff's Investigators Mike Bell, Bruce Elliott and George Dyer." The medical personnel from Southern Tennessee Medical Center reviewed standards for disposing of clothing of individuals-especially children-who have been in a meth environment. "When a child is found where a lab is being operated, the child is immediately removed and sent to the hospital to checked out for health issues," Kilpatrick explained. The conference was held in response to the rapidly spreading problem in Tennessee of the illegal drug methamphetamine. Panelists included Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents, doctors, representatives from the Department of Children's Services, prosecutors, local law enforcement officials, judges, victims' rights advocates and educators. Speakers touched on topics such as drug-endangered children and HIV risks related to meth cases. The conference raised several important issues including meth 101, emergency room response, the increase of foster care due to meth, and prosecution strategies. Panelists addressed how to conduct meth investigations and medical issues of concern to judges handling the drug cases. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens