Why
this is important:
Drug abuse in Iowa has been compounded in recent years
by the demand for, and supply of, highly addictive methamphetamine.
Users of this drug can be prone to violence and child neglect.
Recent state legislation to control the key ingredient
used to make meth appears to be having its intended effect
of curbing meth labs, and their accompanying hazards, in
Iowa. Very significant challenges remain, including reducing
the out-of-state supply of meth and the demand by Iowans
who use it, plus other forms of substance abuse that have
not subsided during the rising meth problem.
What we're doing about this:
ODCP is monitoring the effectiveness of Iowa's pseudoephedrine
control law, which together with other strong prevention
and enforcement efforts is contributing to a significant
drop in meth labs. Since enacting the nation's strongest
non-prescription pseudoephedrine control law in 2005,
meth lab incidents have declined approximately 77%
(preliminary data for 2006 vs. 2004). In 2006, Iowa
averaged 29 labs/month. That's down from an average
of 125/month in 2004, when DEA records indicated that
Iowa recorded the 3rd highest number of meth lab responses
of any state in the U.S. Data available through July
31, 2007, show meth lab incidents have declined 90%
since 2004.
Still, 29 meth labs per month - or nearly one-a-day -- is too much.
Iowa meth cooks now resort to pharmacy hopping
to buy enough pseudoephedrine in the aggregate
to make the drug. An electronic real-time
pseudoephedrine tracking system would prevent
these illegal transactions and further reduce
meth labs in Iowa.
Also contributing to the reduction of meth labs in Iowa is an anti-meth
anhydrous ammonia inhibitor and fertilizer
tank valve locks, both of which are available
for widespread use. The inhibitor, calcium
nitrate, was discovered by Iowa State University
to reduce the yield of meth converted from
pseudoephedrine from approximately 42% to
less than 2%. The additive became available
for voluntary use nationwide by agriculture
retailers in late 2006. While keeping an
eye on this progress, ODCP is now working
with law enforcement agencies to devote more
resources -- previously tied up with meth
lab responses -- to interrupting the larger
flow of meth and other drugs into Iowa. More
information on the pseudoephedrine (PSE)
control law is available at: http://www.state.ia.us/government/odcp/information_trends/pseudoephedrine.html
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Why
this is important:
Too often, and many times hidden from public view, vulnerable children are unwitting
victims of illegal drug distribution, use or manufacturing. One in three children
live in an environment where parents are struggling with substance abuse (NIH
2000). Children who are abused in drug environments may be subjected to physical
and verbal abuse, and neglect.
Over the last five years, more than 6,000 cases of abuse involving
drug-affected children (children testing
positive for any illegal drug in their system)
have been reported to the Iowa Department
of Human Services (DHS). The number of such
cases in 2006 was 1,481, a 14% reduction
from 1,713 in 2004.
Additionally, more than 1,000 children over the last four years
(2002-2005) were classified by DHS as victims
of abuse due to their proximity to hazardous
methamphetamine labs and/or meth precursor
chemicals. The number of these cases in 2006
was 107, a 64% reduction compared to 299 in 2004.
Despite the reduction of meth lab incidents, the demand for meth
has not decreased. The largest source of
meth is supplied by drug trafficking organizations
to feed the appetites of Iowa meth users.
A 2006 field study found that all Child in
Need of Assistance cases in a 16-county area
of Southwest Iowa, 47% were found to have
a nexus; parents manufacturing, using or
selling methamphetamine. In addition to meth,
marijuana and cocaine are also being trafficked
in Iowa, creating additional risks for children.
What we're doing about this:
Progress is being made
in reducing the exposure of children to the
toxic meth production process and more is
being done. ODCP is working with the Attorney
General's office and many other local and
state organizations to expand Iowa's Drug
Endangered Children (DEC) program. Sixteen
local multi-disciplinary DEC teams have been
formed in Polk, Appanoose, Dubuque, Linn,
Wapello, Woodbury, Pottawattamie, Clay, Story,
Cherokee, Clinton, Des Moines, Marshall,
Mills, Boone and Buena Vista Counties. These
DEC Teams are forming to leverage and coordinate
resources of the public health, private health
care, human service and criminal justice
systems, to protect children and hold illicit
drug abusers accountable. When appropriate,
the program also strives to assist families
in obtaining substance abuse treatment. A
new Iowa media campaign launched in February
2007 is aimed at increasing public awareness
and reporting of Drug Endangered Children.
Go to www.drugshurtkids.com for
more information.
The DEC teams are identifying children as victims, removing them
from the harmful environment, collecting evidence
of child victimization, screening the children
for drugs and other toxins, establishing DEC
team protocols and multi-agency coordination.
The adults are being held accountable through
treatment and testing. The end result is to
reunite the family, if possible.
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