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Clandestine
Methamphetamine Labs Frequently Asked Questions
How to Care for Children Removed from a Drug Endangered Environment
Kathryn Wells, MD,
Medical Director ,Denver Family Crisis Center
(720) 944-3747
E-Mail
Dr. Kathryn Wells
How should
a child removed from a drug endangered environment be cared for?
All children removed from drug endangered environments need as much, if
not more, love and kindness as any other child placed away from their
biological home. Often children in drug endangered environments are
witnesses to violence and may even be victims of neglect and abuse.
Therefore, they need an environment that ensures as much stability,
consistency and safety as possible. Like all children, above all, they
need love patience and compassion.
Children removed from an environment where illegal substances are
manufactured may
have some special needs.
What signs
and symptoms would a child likely display after being exposed to the
environment containing a clandestine laboratory?
These children are usually asymptomatic. Children removed from homes where
illegal drugs are being manufactured should be evaluated medically before
being placed in care. If this has not occurred, they need to undergo an
initial medical evaluation, followed by a complete physical (if not done
at the time of the initial evaluation) within 24-48 hours of placement.
Most of the children removed from these homes have normal initial
medical evaluations. However, because of the potential chemical exposure
the child may have had in the home from which they were removed, the
caretaker should pay special attention to any respiratory symptoms
(difficulty breathing, excessive cough, shortness of breath) as well as
changes in mental status (confusion, excessive sleepiness, excessive
hyperactivity). Although unlikely, if present these symptoms should be
evaluated urgently by a medical provider. If the onset of symptoms occurs
greater than 24 hours after the exposure, it likely unrelated to the
clandestine laboratory though the child still should be medically
evaluated.
Should I have concerns about a child that was removed from a drug
endangered home that did not contain a clandestine lab?
These children should be cared for in the same manner as any
child that is removed from their biologic home for any reason. All of
these children need complete medical evaluations as required by the
Department of Social Services. If the child exhibits any abnormal signs
or symptoms prior to or following that evaluation, they need to be
reevaluated by a medical provider.
Again, homes in which there is drug or alcohol use are often lacking
the consistency which children need to thrive. Therefore, providing these
children with an environment where there is consistency, compassion and
kindness is critical for optimal
development.
What should I do with the clothing of children removed from drug
endangered environments?
All children that have been removed from homes containing
clandestine labs should be decontaminated and dressed in clean clothing
prior to placement. Therefore, their clothing is safe. If they have not
been decontaminated, all clothing should be removed and
discarded and they should be thoroughly washed with soap and water in a
warm shower as soon as possible.
Also, they should not come into your care with any personal items from
their homes (e.g. toys, blankets, etc.) other than those provided by
responders on scene or by medical professionals at evaluation. All
clothing and personal items including toys contained in a home in which
there was a clandestine lab are to be considered contaminated and need to
be properly disposed of at the scene. There may be an exception for
certain personal items (such as eyeglasses, but not contact lenses!) that
may have been cleaned by the professionals on scene. These exceptions
would need to be approved by the HAZMAT commander at the scene.
The clothing and personal items of children removed from drug
endangered environments that do not house clandestine labs should be safe.
It is probably a good idea to wash all of the child’s clothing once the
child is received.
Also, be aware that there have been many cases in which the child’s
caregiver has placed drugs and possibly needles/syringes in the child’s
toys, diaper bag, or other personal
belongings in an effort to hide them. If you find anything suspicious, do
not touch the item and call your local law enforcement agency or
caseworker immediately.
Under what conditions are children addicted to Methamphetamine? What
are the symptoms? Will a child experience withdrawal?
It is difficult to know if children living in homes with
Methamphetamine use can actually become addicted to the drug. Some studies
have shown that in homes where Methamphetamine is manufactured up to half
of the children living there test positive for the drug at the time of
removal. In homes with heavy use, studies have shown about 10% of those
children test positive for Methamphetamine at removal. We do not know how
many children actually get the drug into their system at some time while
living in these homes. However, a positive screen does not equate with
addiction, which is very hard to define in this setting.
Symptoms of drug exposure may be rapid heart rate, high blood
pressure, high body temperature, and agitation. All of these symptoms
should have been assessed for during the initial medical evaluation and
may be related to a serious medical condition unrelated to drug exposure.
If the child was not evaluated medically before placement and is
displaying these symptoms, they should be medically evaluated as soon as
possible.
There have been no adequately documented cases of true withdrawal in
children environmentally exposed to drugs, unless the child actually
ingested the drug, was
clinically ill, and was evaluated at a medical facility. However, in cases
of heavy use, Methamphetamine is known to deplete dopamine levels in the
brain, ultimately causing the user to become very sleepy and lethargic. If
the child displays these symptoms, they should also be evaluated
medically.
It is possible that mood swings and unusual behavior may be related to
the recent changes in the child’s living status or underlying
psychological or psychiatric illness and not drug exposure.
Finally, there have been reports of caregivers giving children other
drugs or medications such as sedatives or antihistamines in an effort to
get them to sleep. Therefore, any child that begins to behave unusually or
have unexplained symptoms should be evaluated medically.
The physical manifestations of withdrawal in an infant are similar to
those in an adult.
What behaviors would one expect to see in a child removed from a
Methamphetamine lab?
The behaviors displayed by these children vary greatly. As the
specific environment to which the child was exposed are likely unknown in
these children, it is important to use care in determining the level of
supervision that these children may need to assure their safety and the
safety of others in your home.
What symptoms would one expect to see in an infant that was exposed
to Methamphetamine before birth?
Infants exposed in utero to Methamphetamine are typically very
sleepy the first few weeks of life, often not even waking to feed. After
the initial period of sleepiness, these infants then become very jittery
and irritable, much like a cocaine-exposed infant. The drug can affect the
development of any major organ system but these abnormalities would
usually be detected at birth.
How would one care for an infant that is drug exposed before birth?
Certainly, you should speak with the infant’s physician about
concerns regarding a newborn’s health, as there are many reasons why the
child may be excessively sleepy or fussy. If other potentially serous
causes are excluded, these infants need an environment that is peaceful
and calming. If possible, turn the lights low when the infant is trying to
rest. In the first few weeks of life, the baby may need to be awakened
for feedings. After that time, try to reduce the amount of unneeded
excessive stimulus in the infant’s environment.
Does a child from a clandestine lab pose a toxic risk to me, my
children or to other members of my family?
Absolutely not. Once the child removed from the lab has been
decontaminated, he or she poses no toxic risk to other persons whatsoever.
Depending upon the medical indications, viral studies for hepatitis and/or
HIV may be warranted.
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Meth & Pregnancy
Abuse/Neglect
Medical Evaluations
Caring for DEC
Introduction
Exposure Signs
Living with Meth
DEC
DEC Reporting
Dr. Wells Papers
Dr. Shah Biography
DEC Links
Research:
Newborn's Hair Test of Mom's Meth
Use
Research:
Meth
Use Restricts Fetal Growth |
