MU researchers help endangered children at meth labs

Missouri had the most meth lab incidents in the nation in 2006.

By Michael Sewall

Published March 6, 2007

MU researchers and the Missouri Juvenile Justice Association have developed guidelines for Missouri communities to help take care of the hundreds of children found at methamphetamine lab sites, according to a news release.

Missouri had the most "meth clandestine laboratory incidents" in the nation in 2006 with 1,268, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

The last reported statistics from the DEA showed more than 500 children were found and seized from methamphetamine labs in 2002.

"We developed these guidelines to improve the safety and medical care of children who are found in meth lab environments," Shannon Stokes, MU Institute of Public Policy research analyst, stated in a news release.

The goal is to work together to care for drug-exposed children, she stated.

"Our guidelines make this possible by stressing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that is tailored to meet the needs of the community, and by extension, the children," she stated.

Stokes said the research began because there was a need for guidelines to help children.

"It came in response to Missouri's long-standing history with meth-related incidents," she said. "And children found in meth labs have a special need."

Columbia police Sgt. Scott Young said meth labs aren't a local problem.

"Throughout the whole meth craze, incidents in Boone County and Columbia are way lower than other areas," Young said. "Columbia is kind of a demographic oddity."

Despite a lack of meth-related episodes, Young said Columbia police have equipment and personnel to deal with a potential incident.

Young said the children found in meth labs are treated no differently than children in any other dangerous situation. He said the police take care of the child then hands him or her over to the Department of Social Services Family Support Division.

The guidelines include recommendations that communities develop a team of specialists to deal with meth labs, hold meetings to discuss procedures and hold a conference before a raid to effectively plan how to best help children found at the site.

The guidelines also explain proper medical treatment and procedures to decontaminate children found on the site of a lab.

MJJA Director Vivian Murphy said future steps would include developing a training curriculum and programs on these guidelines.

The organization is also planning to create a Web-based training course.

"The next step is regional training," Murphy said.

Stokes said she and the MJJA are now developing a curriculum to discuss the guidelines and develop work plans.

"It's been a great collaboration," Murphy said.

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., secured funding for the development the guidelines.

"Some of the most horrible child injury stories I have heard have their origin in methamphetamine abuse," Bond stated in a release. "These new guidelines are an important step in protecting the children found in meth labs. By working together, we can help these children and tackle this dangerous epidemic."