Pubdate: Thu, 16 Dec 2004
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2004 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Barbara Isaacs, Herald-Leader Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ALLIANCE'S CONCERN IS KIDS IN METH LABS

30,000 In State Likely Exposed To Toxins

Thousands of Kentucky children may live inside hidden drug-producing
labs, exposed daily to extremely dangerous chemicals and the risk of
deadly explosions.

Identifying them -- and giving the best medical treatment and support
to children discovered during methamphetamine lab busts -- is the aim
of a new partnership announced yesterday: Kentucky's Alliance for Drug
Endangered Children.

Some 66 children have been found living in 515 meth labs discovered in
Kentucky, according to Kentucky State Police statistics through Dec.
6. It is thought that for every known lab, 10 to 15 more remain
undiscovered.

"This is not about 30 or 50 meth labs," said Dr. Steve Davis, director
of the Kentucky Division of Adult and Child Health Improvement. "It's
the effect that it has on thousands of Kentucky children ... It rips
the heart of families apart."

Davis and other experts estimate that some 30,000 Kentucky children
are likely exposed to meth production. The largest concentration of
meth labs are in Western Kentucky, but activity has spread across the
state.

The alliance includes dozens of agencies involved in child protection
statewide, including seven colleges within the University of Kentucky.

The alliance's first plan is to provide five free statewide training
sessions this winter, which will educate 1,200 Kentuckians who provide
protection to drug-endangered children, such as law enforcement,
social workers, emergency room personnel and others. The training will
be conducted by national experts, including the author of national
medical guidelines for drug-endangered children.

"We have to increase our ability to identify signs in children," said
Holly Hopper, chair of the alliance. Hopper is an extension associate
with the UK College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service's
Health Education through Extension Leadership program.

Children who are exposed to meth production may have superficial
burns, asthma, lack of sleep or excessive sleepiness, which can be
identified by people who are on the lookout for such indicators,
Hopper said.

"I can't imagine what it must be like for some of these kids," said UK
President Lee Todd, who helped announced the new alliance.

The risks to children who live in meth labs are grave: The chemicals
involved are explosive, toxic and can cause skin burns, breathing
difficulties, brain damage and cancer. Chemicals commonly used in meth
production include everything from battery acid to anhydrous ammonia,
a common farm fertilizer. Hazardous waste results from meth
production, which is also a danger to those who encounter meth labs.

Children removed from a meth lab need to be decontaminated -- washed
to remove chemical residue from their skin and hair, with disposal of
their clothes. It's also traumatic because contaminated toys, clothes
and other items can't be taken with them.

Children who have been living at the site of meth production also need
medical evaluation, with immediate transport to an emergency room if
there has been an explosion, active chemicals at the scene or if the
child appears ill.

National guidelines call for a head-to-toe medical examination within
two to four hours, including blood testing and urine collection, to
help identify levels of exposure and potential medical problems such
as liver and kidney damage. The child's lungs, skin and nervous system
also should be examined.

Identifying children who live alongside meth production is often
difficult because of the transient nature of those who make it. Meth
is often produced in rental properties, motel rooms, storage units,
campgrounds and unoccupied farmland or forests -- even in the trunks
of cars.

The meth lab alliance is the fourth major project from the extension
service's health leadership program, in which extension agents provide
health education in their communities. The Cooperative Extension
Service has already created a variety of resource materials to help
community members identify and protect against meth production on
private property.
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MAP posted-by: Derek