Parents can choose: Make meth or keep children

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

WALLEY

Parents may now have to choose between their children and their meth lab under a new state law which allows child protective agencies to permanently remove children from a home where meth is being produced.

The law makes having a meth lab inside the same residence where children are being raised a severe child abuse offense, meaning the court can permanently revoke the parent’s right to the child if the parent is found guilty. In addition to losing custody, parents or guardians of children found near a meth production site may also be charged in criminal court with felony child endangerment.

According to Commissioner Page Walley of the Department of Children’s Services, the new law is meant to give enforcement officers a way to immediately and permanently protect children who are exposed to the hazardous chemicals associated with meth.

“The process of creating meth can contaminate all surrounding materials and a child who continues to be exposed to materials such as clothing, toys and furniture that have been contaminated by this process continues to be in danger,” Walley said. “Children exposed to these toxic fumes and residue can suffer from respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, rashes and body sores.

“Phoshpine gas, a possible by-product of creating meth, may cause loss of consciousness or death. Additionally, children are at a greater risk of physical abuse when in the presence of someone under the influence of meth.”

Sheriff Jackie Matheny applauded the new law, pointing out his department has raided several labs where children were present.

“You wouldn’t believe what damage it can cause these children,” Matheny said. “I’ve had grandparents who have called to turn in their own children because their grandchildren were being exposed to these chemicals. They were coming down with illnesses and sores. It’s really terrible.”

Matheny said he believes the new law will be a tool with which children can be saved from further exposure to the chemicals.

“They don’t need to be around that stuff, and in some cases, the only way to keep them away is to remove them from the home because the parent keeps messing with it,” Matheny said, noting his department always reports such cases to DCS.