CONFERENCE HEARS OF METH DANGER

CASPER - Drug abusers aren't safe parents, experts said Thursday at
the Third Wyoming Methamphetamine Conference.

About 700 people gathered in Casper on Wednesday and Thursday for the
conference. Specialists spoke about treatment, addiction and the
drug's effect on children.

Dr. Kathryn Wells, a Denver pediatrician who specializes in
child-protection issues, said meth users can't maintain a safe home
environment for children. She said that's due in part to users'
crashing phase, when they sleep for long periods of time as they're
coming off the drug.

When users are sleeping, their children are left to fend for
themselves, Wells said. And when parents finally awaken, their brains
are depleted from their natural feel-good chemicals, she said.
Depression ensues, prompting them to get their next fix.

Wells showed pictures of children who mistakenly grabbed baby bottles
and soda bottles filled with byproducts of meth, some of which had
been placed in refrigerators to cool after cooking sessions. She said
one child was severely burned when hot liquid from stovetop meth
production splashed.

Yet despite the highly addictive nature of meth, some former users at
the conference said they have been able to put the drug behind them
and get on with healthy lives.

Steve Dax and Angela Pomroy said they no longer use the drug and are
now planning a June wedding.

Dax said that during his time as an addict, he once watched a friend
die from an overdose. He said he did things he wouldn't tell a preacher.

But now, Dax said, he gets up every day looking forward to his job as
a welder. He hugged Pomroy and said he couldn't wait to marry her.

Pomroy said drug court saved her life. She said the structure didn't
let her get away with anything. She said she hopes that the fact she
and Dax are able to live without the drug helps others overcome their
addiction.

Some at the conference said faith can play an important role in
helping people overcome meth addiction.

Jim Elias, director of Faith Initiatives of Wyoming, said his group
has received federal grants to help with social problems, including
helping young people with substance abuse.

Elias said his role is to support and educate churches and other
faith-based and community groups on how they can help fight meth
addiction. While he said his group doesn't maintain that everyone
needs to be helped by a faith-based organization, it's there for
those who want that chance.