What is a Drug Endangered Child?

• The Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is a coalition of professionals assisting local communities to effectively and efficiently identify and protect children endangered by caregivers who produce, distribute or use illegal drugs such as methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

• A Drug Endangered Child is a child from birth to 18 years who lives in, is exposed to, or found in places where controlled substances are sold, manufactured, possessed or used.

• The Alliance exists to serve the professional community that serves the drug endangered children population.

The Problem: A Methamphetamine Epidemic in Arkansas

• According to the 2009 National Drug Intelligence Center Drug Threat Assessment methamphetamine remains the #1 drug threat in Arkansas.

• Since 2000, Arkansas has been ranked as one of the top five states with the highest number of seized methamphetamine labs per capita.

• There have been more than 7800 toxic/explosive methamphetamine labs seized in the State from January 2000 to April 2010.

The Problem: Children Exposed to Methamphetamine Use and Production in Arkansas

• Methamphetamine is threatening the youth of Arkansas and the future of our State.

• According to the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, Arkansas, in 2004, ranked 5th nationally in the number of children reported to be found where methamphetamine labs have been seized.

• From 2000 to April 2010, there have been over one thousand children located at methamphetamine labs in Arkansas.

• Children living in methamphetamine labs in Arkansas have been found to be contaminated with methamphetamine and have been injured by exposure to the toxic chemicals in the home.

• Studies from the National Jewish Medical and Research Center have demonstrated that smoking and cooking methamphetamine contaminates the entire residence with toxic chemical residues.

• Children are also adversely affected when their caregivers use methamphetamine.

• Infants born to mothers who have used methamphetamine during pregnancy are at risk for short and long-term health and development problems.

• Binge-crash cycles in caregivers using methamphetamine leads to children becoming victims of nutritional, supervisory, educational and emotional neglect.

• Children raised by methamphetamine abusing caregivers are at risk of being physically or sexually abused.

• Children of methamphetamine abusers are at high risk of perpetuating the “cycle” of abuse.

• Many children of methamphetamine users have developmental needs that require additional therapy and treatment.

• The number of methamphetamine labs seized annually in Arkansas has decreased.

• 63% reduction in 2006 compared to peak years of 2003 and 2004.

• March 20, 2005 Schedule V legislation passed placing products containing pseudoephedrine behind the pharmacy counter.

• Does this decrease in labs also decrease the number of children affected by methamphetamine? NO!

• Treatment providers indicate that methamphetamine is the primary drug of choice of their clients.

• Based on 2004 data, SAMSHSA issued a national advisory (April 2006) indicating that methamphetamine was identified as the primary substance of abuse, accounting for 8% of all admissions to drug abuse treatment facilities nationally. Arkansas was one of only seven states with 20% or more of treatment admissions identified as due to methamphetamine addiction.

• According to the substance abuse treatment admissions recorded by the Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Behavioral Health Services, Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention (ADAP), from 1992 through 2003, clients seeking treatment for methamphetamine use has increased by 897%.

• 78% of Arkansas hospitals responding to a January 2006 National Association of Counties survey indicated they were seeing higher costs because many of the methamphetamine patients being treated medically were uninsured.

• There is no shortage of supply!

• Sheriffs reporting increased availability of methamphetamine.

• Increased availability of methamphetamine due to importation from Mexico.

• Increasing quantities of methamphetamine submitted to the crime lab.

The Response

• The Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children

• Established in May of 2005.

• The Alliance is a coalition of professionals assisting local communities to effectively and efficiently identify and assist children endangered by a parent or caregiver's illicit drug activities.

• Key Issues: The Priorities

• Identification of those children who are affected by methamphetamine and other drugs such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

• We do not know the number of methamphetamine endangered children in the State!

• Identification of those professionals who come in contact or need to have contact with a drug endangered child.

• Identification of services and service gaps for those children affected by caregivers that use, produce or distribute methamphetamine or other illegal drugs.

• The Alliance exists to serve the professional community that serves the drug endangered children population by providing the following services:

• Serve as a resource to equip professionals with accurate knowledge.

• Database development, tracking and analysis for program efficiency and effectiveness.

• Provide networking opportunities

• Promote research to benefit drug endangered children.

Pilot Study Results

• In 2006, the Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) and Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (DEC) in partnership with the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and the Administrative Office of the Courts initiated a pilot study for the purposes of more accurately determining the number of drug endangered children (DEC) in Arkansas, identify and enhance alignment of law enforcement, social service and judicial systems that provide services to drug endangered children and their families and provide baseline data for the evaluation of short- and long-term services and treatment outcomes.

• At the core of this pilot study is the shared philosophy that three primary independent governmental systems (law enforcement, health and human services and judicial) come into contact and serve children and families at risk of harm and separation because of illicit drug activities. These systems each have their own mission and purpose and are staffed with individuals who each have their own values, beliefs, stereotypes and ideas about children and families at risk.

• Despite the potential for these three independent systems to intersect through the experiences of drug endangered children and their families, the potential to facilitate communication and cooperation for the benefit of DEC and their families had not been explored prior to the initiation of this pilot project.

• A preliminary analysis of 116 cases reviewed in two pilot counties revealed that 66 or 57% of the cases involved parental/caregiver substance abuse. In depth case reviews were conducted using the Alliance definition of a drug endangered child.

• 51 of the 66 (77%) of DEC cases identified through case review involved illicit methamphetamine activities of the caregivers.

• When compared to non-DEC cases, DEC cases required 30%-50% more resources than non-DEC cases.

• The development of efficient and effective strategies tailored to the needs of drug endangered children and their families could have a tremendous impact on the child welfare system in Arkansas.

• In response to feedback from the Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, the Division of Children and Family Services included parental/caretaker drug involvement and the type of drug involved in the CHildrens Reporting and Information System (CHRIS), beginning October 1, 2006.

In addition to case review, an important component of the above referenced pilot study are Drug Endangered Children (DEC) summary forms, which are currently being used to document communication and collaboration in drug involved child welfare cases between law enforcement and social services professionals. During a twelve month period (July 2006 through July 2007), 89 summary DEC forms were completed in the two county study population. The completed DEC summary forms also provide information regarding the number of children in each household impacted, the age of the affected children, the previous criminal history of the adult involved and whether or not the family is a current or has been a previous DCFS client.

• In these two pilot populations, 351 drug endangered children (DEC) between birth and 18 years of age were identified.

• 60% of the DEC cases involved illicit methamphetamine activities.

• Methamphetamine or marijuana accounted for 70% of the cases.

These preliminary data illustrate the impact of the drugs methamphetamine and marijuana on children in these two pilot communities. These data also further illustrate the underestimates of the number of potential drug endangered children derived from other data sources and implies a significantly greater scope of this issue than previously documented. By identifying these at-risk children as early as possible, the effectiveness and efficacy of interventions can be evaluated, reducing the psychological and physical harm to these children and enhancing the potential for them to live in safe and nurturing environments.

• The majority of the children in these cases (83%) were birth to nine years of age.

• 76% of the children were current or had been previous social service clients.

• 71% of the adults were current or had been previous DCFS clients.

These preliminary data indicate that recidivism within the child welfare system is a significant issue in the two pilot communities and suggest that a statewide expansion of this study to better define the scope and impact of this issue is warranted.

• 48% of the adult social service clients were determined to have a criminal history.

These results emphasize the need for communication and collaboration between law enforcement and social service professionals. By sharing information, the safety of not only the case worker or officer, but also the child (ren) can be enhanced.

The ultimate goal of the Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is to help professionals to break the cycle of drug and child abuse in their community.

For additional information about the Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children or the research project implemented by the Criminal Justice Institute please contact: Dr. Cheryl P. May at (501) 570-8000 or by e-mail cpmay@cji.edu or Kevin Booth at (501) 570-8034 or by e-mail kbooth@cji.edu.

Arkansas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children:
Steering Committee