COUNTY ACTS TO PROTECT CHILDREN IN METH LABS

Wilson County commissioners Monday night approved a protocol to
protect children and enhance the coordination of departments when a
methamphetamine lab is discovered.

Andrew Payne, a representative for the Wilson County Department of
Social Service, told commissioners methamphetamine labs, more
commonly known as meth labs, could have a devastating effect on
families and the county.

Glenn Osborne, director of DSS, said by presenting the protocol DSS
was being proactive in preparing local agencies to work together to
respond to children found in meth lab homes.

The role of DSS was to assure that children who grew up in drug lab
environments and employees in the county who might have to raid them were safe.

Business leaders and county department heads have endorsed the
protocol, which was developed by the Wilson County Drug Endangered
Children Task Force.

The task force is composed of county agencies, emergency management
officials, law enforcement and community agencies.

Officials expressed their commitment and support for the protocol
during a signing ceremony before Monday night's commissioners meeting.

A presentation highlighting the key areas of the new protocol known
as "Wilson County Response Protocol For Children Found In Clandestine
Drug Lab Situations" was presented to commissioners and the public.

In North Carolina, children are found in 25-30 percent of drug lab
raids. In 2004, 3,500 children were rescued nationwide from
residences with meth labs in them. About 80 percent of those children
end up in foster care, Payne said.

In 1999 there were only nine meth lab busts in North Carolina. Last
year there were more than 300 such raids, Payne said.

According to the protocol, if police raid a drug lab in the county
where children are possibly living at the residence, DSS would send
in its Children Protective Service team to help the children with
clothes, any needed medical treatments, and assessing guardianship for them.

The protocol lays out 23 steps on how to serve children found at the
residence of a drug lab.

"Our county is way ahead of the game," Payne said.

After 9/11, the county was able to purchase contamination suits and
equipment through federal Homeland Security grants that would help in
the battle against meth labs, Payne said.

Making 1 pound of methamphetamine creates 6 pounds of toxic waste, Payne said.

Staff members are being trained on the dangers of the meth labs and
the importance of collaboration with local and state agencies.

The training sessions are a coordinated effort between the State
Bureau of Investigation and the Wilson County Drug Endangered
Children Task Force.