'SCOURGE' OF METH AFFLICTING STATE'S CHILDREN, AGENCIES SAY

Law-enforcement officers and social workers told a Tennessee legislative
oversight committee Thursday that methamphetamine is almost a statewide
problem.

"Methamphetamine is a scourge in our state," said Richard Littlehale,
special agent and legal adviser for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The General Assembly's Select Committee on Children and Youth held about a
2 1/2-hour hearing at the Moses Center of the Boys and Girls Club on
Carrick Street in Knoxville to learn about the growing meth problem and its
effect on children.

The seven-member committee includes state Rep. Richard Montgomery, R-Sevier
County, and state Rep. Russell Johnson, R-Loudon County.

Peggy Bratcher, a social worker for the state Department of Children's
Services in the upper Cumberland Plateau region, said the problem is almost
out of control.

"We're out of foster homes," she said. "We're running out of them so very
quickly."

In the upper Cumberland region alone, she said, 123 children were removed
from homes last year because of parental meth use.

So far this year, they have removed 148 children from homes because of
meth, she said.

"Sex abuse was one of our biggest problems until meth came through the
door," Bratcher said.

Lt. Gary Price of the Knoxville Police Department testified that Knoxville
has not seen the amount of usage or labs that other jurisdictions have
seen. Knoxville police have busted one meth lab within the city in the last
two to three years, he said.

What Knoxville police have seen, though, is a rise in the theft of
ingredients that help make the product, especially Sudafed, which has
ephedrine, an essential ingredient in meth, Price said.

"We're about two years behind everyone else," Price said. "When the crack
cocaine phenomenon came on in other cities, it took us about two years to
experience the same problems."

While the drug may not be a huge problem in Knoxville, surrounding counties
are having problems with it.

Just two weeks ago, the U.S. Attorney's office in Knoxville announced 34
people including many East Tennesseans had been indicted for several drug
charges. They face charges that include conspiracy to distribute
methamphetamine.

Over the last two months, at least eight meth labs have been busted in the
region. More than 35 have been raided over the last year in East Tennessee.

Law-enforcement officers say the problem is mostly rural, but it will only
be time before it spreads into urban areas.

Littlehale testified there has already been an increase in the drug at rave
parties, dances that are held all night and can include heavy drug usage.

"We're finding that people who attend rave dances are going from their
usual drug of choice - Ecstasy - to meth," he said.

Bratcher said the drug is tearing families apart.

It is hard for Children's Services to take children out of these situations
as well, because the law favors keeping children with their parents, she said.

When asked by state senators if she believed more legislation and harsher
penalties could help get children out of households that make meth labs,
Bratcher said children only want to be with their parents.

"I haven't seen a child yet that doesn't want to go home," she said. "It's
a very strong bond to break."