CHILDREN AND METH

I read with great interest your special report, "A Madness Called Meth"
Oct. 8. Those who work in the area of child abuse prevention are only too
familiar with the special issues meth presents for children. As your
article pointed out, there is usually a strong correlation between parents
who abuse meth and those who physically abuse their children.

Parenting almost always takes a back seat to the drug, as parents who are
addicts routinely neglect children. Children are also often put at risk, as
was clearly demonstrated in your article by adults who would take
protective measures themselves (wearing gas masks and rubber gloves) while
cooking meth in the presence of children, yet fail to consider their
children's exposure to a drug that can burn to the bone upon contact with
the skin, not to mention the effects of inhaling its toxic fumes.

Experts tell us that children found living in meth labs are particularly
susceptible to the toxic hazards because of their physiological status
(higher rates of growth, metabolism, respiration and development than
adults) and behaviors (hand-to-mouth and increased contact with their
physical environment). Not only are children exposed to this horrible drug,
but they are also exposed to a chaotic and criminal environment.

The growing problem of home-based methamphetamine "labs" is rivaling the
problem of methamphetamine abuse itself in many part of California. Thank
you to all the researchers and writers who contributed to your
comprehensive report on the most common clandestinely manufactured drug in
the United States.

Joyce Thompson Bianchi, Coordinator, Madera County Child Abuse Prevention
Council