METH HURTS KIDS

Following a recent intense statewide conference on the problems dealing
with methamphetamines, figures show that 25 children in Franklin County
have been removed their families by law enforcement and the Department of
Child Services.

According to Cindy Kilpatrick of the Department of Child Services (DCS),
from January to November of this year, the department has taken custody of
78 children this year in the county and of that number, 25 were removed
from homes where meth was being produced.

"There have been some children who were removed but were placed with
relatives, rather than us taking them," Kilpatrick explained.

She stated that during the same period, DCS received information of 124
children possibly being in danger from methamphetamine production. "All
total, we have had 276 cases involving a number of incidents, "

Kilpatrick stated. Kilpatrick presented a program on "Life of meth
referral" and what constitutes protective services, during the meth
conference presented in Nashville to the more than 500 attendees, which
included judges, medical personnel and law enforcement.

Three employees of Southern Tennessee Medical Center, Lynn Myer, Buffy
Peterson and Faye Jernigan-also attended the conference along with Estill
Springs Police Chief David Cook, Winchester Public Safety Director Dennis
Young and Maggie Posey from the Department of Child Services along with
Robert Baggett and Beth Foster-Smith of the Franklin County Juvenile Court.

Representatives of law enforcement, the hospital and DCS are working on a
panel formed called Drug Endangered Children (D.E.R.).

According to the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Tennessee is second in the
nation for the number of meth labs confiscated, with 724 in 2002, 525 in
the first six months of 2003, and 1,154 labs found in the fiscal year of
2003 which ended Sept. 1.

According to figures released during the conference, Franklin County is the
number one producing county for methamphetamines.

U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp called the meth problem "the moonshine of our
generation, but I would say times 100. People lived through the moonshine
problem. They're not living through the meth problem." Meth has also been
called "the poor man's cocaine."

Young stated that during the conference, a number of pictures taken at
various methamphetamines labs around Franklin County were displayed during
the conference.

"It was kind of embarrassing to be walking around and people would come up
to you and tell us that we had a real problem with methamphetamines," Young
said. "But they talked about our Town Meetings."

Young stated that there are plans are being made to hold another Town
Meeting after the first of year. He said the meeting would focus on the
effects methamphetamines have on the family and children.

The Public Safety Director noted that when he and Chief Cook, along with
the DCS workers and representatives of the hospital explained to those who
asked how they are battling the meth problem here in Franklin County, they
stated that they are taking a "proactive approach to the problem."

He also explained that law enforcement is working in partnership with DCS.

"We were told that the state DCS does not have enough foster parents to
handle the children who are removed from homes," the public safety director
said.

Young explained that while Franklin County has the largest number of meth
labs, "we probably have the most of certified methamphetamines lab
technicians for a rural county.

Those who are qualified to handle the removal of components the labs are
Winchester Police Sgt. Danny Mantooth and Investigator Billy Anderson along
with Franklin County Sheriff's Investigators Mike Bell, Bruce Elliott and
George Dyer."

The medical personnel from Southern Tennessee Medical Center reviewed
standards for disposing of clothing of individuals-especially children-who
have been in a meth environment.

"When a child is found where a lab is being operated, the child is
immediately removed and sent to the hospital to checked out for health
issues," Kilpatrick explained.

The conference was held in response to the rapidly spreading problem in
Tennessee of the illegal drug methamphetamine.

Panelists included Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents, doctors,
representatives from the Department of Children's Services, prosecutors,
local law enforcement officials, judges, victims' rights advocates and
educators.

Speakers touched on topics such as drug-endangered children and HIV risks
related to meth cases.

The conference raised several important issues including meth 101,
emergency room response, the increase of foster care due to meth, and
prosecution strategies. Panelists addressed how to conduct meth
investigations and medical issues of concern to judges handling the drug cases.