1. Drug Endangered Children: Parental Methamphetamine Use and Manufacture Patricia Marinelli-Casey, Ph.D. Nena Messina, Ph.D. UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs Western Conference on Addictions Universal City, CA November 11, 2005

2. 2 Most frequently: Infants/Children who suffer abuse and neglect because of their caretaker’s substance abuse and/or manufacture Who Are Drug Endangered Children?

3. 3 Poor Parenting Issues Toxic exposure to precursor chemicals MA lab fire and explosions Exposure to illegal activities (if they’re cooking, they’re selling) What Are the Dangers to Children in MA Environment?

4. 4 Children Whose Parents Abuse Drugs & Alcohol Have: 2.7 greater chance of abuse 4.2 greater chance of neglect  Lack of Essential Food  Lack of Hygienic Home & Care  Inappropriate Sleeping Conditions  Lack of Medical / Dental Treatment  Lack of Supervision

5. 5 Parenting Issues With MA Use  Neglect, long periods of sleep  Inconsistent, paranoid behavior  Irritability, short fuse, physical abuse  Exposure to violence, unsavory characters  Potential for sexual abuse  Poor supervision  Chaotic home environment  Mental health issues  Unhealthy living conditions

6. 6 High Incidence of Domestic Violence in MA-Abusing Homes Threatening notes Dangerous & stressful environment for children

7. 7 Clandestine MA Labs On Increase in California & Nationally

8. 8 33 13 54 95 8 356 9 67 52 63 74 189 88 16 189 273 110 163 46 60 118 50 76 243 43 22 AK 15 HI 1 MA 2 MD 0 RI 0 Source: National Clandestine Laboratory Database Total: 2,869 Dates: 01/01/04 to 12/01/04 Total of All Children Affected at MA Lab Incidents Calendar Year 2004 17 12 110 22 9 7 6 59 8 9 14 1 9

9. 9 MA Manufacturing: Severe Chemical Hazards Manufacturing adds criminal charges, complicating child custody, placement, & family rehabilitation

10. 10 MA Lab Dangers Accidental ingestion of chemicals Contaminated food Explosion Fire Inhalation and exposure to toxic fumes & chemicals

11. 11 Effects of Exposure??? Long-term effects are unknown Current information is from OSHA- based studies Adult outcomes Acute exposures

12. 12 Preliminary Findings (Low-level Exposure) Respiratory problems Dental problems Liver problems Dermatologic problems Developmental “Cautions” or “Delays”

13. 13 A four year old child draws pictures of the meth lab in his parents’ home. October 23, 2002 Through the eyes of a child…

14. 14 National Headlines Toddler Overdoses on Meth Child Ingests Chemicals Oregon Toddler Overdosed on Meth 2-year-old Tortured/Killed While Parents High on Meth Baby Overdoses, Mother Arrested Arizonan beheads 14-year-old Son While High on Meth Meth Lab Blows Leaves Badly Burned Child 8-week-old Dead in Motel Meth Lab 3 Kids Die in Mobile Home Blast

15. 15 Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Project Created to break the cycle of “child abuse” caused by those who manufacture, sell and use drugs – with focus on MA Created a collaborative, multi-disciplinary response to children discovered in MA labs  at the specific case level  at the community and services level

16. 16 CORE TEAM MEMBERS:  Law Enforcement  Child Protective Services  District Attorney’s Office  Medical Personnel “AUXILIARY” TEAM MEMBERS:  Mental health & therapeutic personnel for children  Environmental services, fire, & public health  Drug treatment providers for parents and family members DEC RESPONSE TEAM

17. 17 California DEC Pilot Study (1997) 7 CA Counties with DEC Response Teams Served over 4,000 children taken from MA labs 38% of the children removed tested positive for MA & exhibited high incidence of medical problems

18. 18 National Accomplishments 2004: 4,200 people trained in 25 states. National DEC Alliance & Training Coordinator National Medical Protocol Science Research National Logo 1 st National DEC Conference (6/04-CO) 2 nd National DEC Conference (8/05-DC)

19. 19 National DEC Alliance Ronald V. Mullins, National DEC Training Coordinator (619) 557-7736 Ronald.Mullins2@usdoj.gov OR WWW.NATIONALDEC.ORG San Diego, California

20. 20 PUBLIC AWARENESS Photo: Courtesy of R. Mullins, National DEC Coordinator, San Diego, CA

21. 21 MA Research Current reports describe effects in habitual users Exposures are not relevant to typical DEC scenario Endpoints are not of greatest concern for children New data needed to document the spectrum of adverse effects of MA on children Provide a foundation for additional research

22. 22 Future Research Currently no comprehensive information about the needs of this special population of children Data collection from 1997 Pilot was minimal Lack of statistical data – masked the significance of the issue

23. 23 UCLA/DCFS 2-Year Pilot Study UCLA ISAP & L.A. DCFS: DEC Partnership N. Messina: PI, P. Marinelli-Casey & R. Rawson: Co-PIs Analyze existing DEC case data Medical problems Respiratory, dental, dermatological, etc… Developmental problems Child welfare placement outcomes Foster care, kinship care, adoption, TPR