March 26, 2004

Battle Creek - The safety of Michigan children and the dangers they are exposed to when living in a Methamphetamine environment was foremost on the minds of more than 300 public safety and health care professionals during a special training session held today in Battle Creek. Professionals from Michigan’s law enforcement, child welfare, medical, substance abuse, prevention and treatment, schools, and court system heard first hand the horror stories of children living in Methamphetamine drug environments, as told by enforcement and public health officials from California and Arizona.

The training session, sponsored by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP), Michigan State Police and Michigan High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), will help Michigan officials begin the steps in developing a protocol for protecting endangered children who suffer serious physical and emotional consequences of living in a Methamphetamine environment.

"In the past, we treated children found in Methamphetamine environments as objects - not victims," stated Ron Mullins, National Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Training Coordinator. "We are now aware of the serious damage Methamphetamine inflicts on these innocent and helpless victims. We are providing training across the nation so other states can develop DEC guidelines and procedures for protecting their children."

Authorities painted a pretty bleak picture for conference attendees. Methamphetamine children are exposed to highly hazardous environments, such as explosions, fires, toxic chemical contamination, mental, physical and sexual abuse. These same children can also encounter serious health risks which can range from cancer, burns, sores, neurological damage, asthma, lung damage and other medical conditions due to nutrition and hygiene neglect. Along with these risks, children are exposed to the criminal activities associated with Methamphetamine such as guns, violence and highly dangerous and undesirable cookers and users.

"Not one child in Michigan is disposable - not one!" stated Ms. Yvonne Blackmond, Director of ODCP. "The list of dangers these children are exposed to is sickening and breaks your heart because they are innocent victims who do not have a say in the environment they must survive in. The very parents these children look to for care, nurturing, and protection are so strung out on this deadly drug that they can’t function themselves. It is one of the most serious forms of child abuse. We must strengthen our efforts to break the chain of abuse."

California authorities cited a recent case where a mother of four, cooking Methamphetamine in a house trailer, set off an explosion and fire. The fire completely destroyed the structure, killing three of the four children. The blaze was so intense fire fighters and investigators could find little evidence of the children’s bodies.

"What was so sad was the mother, high on Meth, never tried to save her children. She jumped out of the bathroom window leaving them behind to die," stated Ms. Wendy Segall, Assistant Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. "She exposed her children to a world of danger and never gave it a second thought. Her only thought was on cooking more Methamphetamine. She was convicted and is now being punished for three counts of second degree murder, her children never had a chance."

The DEC program strives to bring together law enforcement, school personnel, social services, medical personnel, and prosecutors in a multijurisdictional approach to stop this form of abuse. DEC training and protocol places the importance of providing for the immediate health and safety of children, followed by the preservation of crime scene evidence, and then aggressive prosecution of the abusing parents. DEC places a high emphasis on sharing information, investigation and interview techniques, and case coordination. Authorities from Los Angeles go as far as to assign special Methamphetamine prosecutors who go to the scene of a Methamphetamine laboratory and help responders compile and preserve evidence aimed at proving child abuse.

"When you respond to a Methamphetamine scene you find officers entering a Meth lab with ‘bunny suits’ (personal protective equipment complete with respirators). They have been trained to realize the deadly environment they are about to enter. Even some of the cookers use gloves and masks for protection," states Captain Charles Bush, Michigan State Police, Criminal Investigation Division. "But what do we find inside? Children living in the same dangerous environment with no protection and no one looking out for their safety. It is our duty to provide these children with immediate protection and treatment and then work along side with the other agencies to ensure successful prosecution of their abusers."

###

Additional Information:

Ms. Nancy Bennett, Michigan Department of Community Health, Office of Drug Control Policy, 517) 373-2952. beckern@michigan.gov