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. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek