Group urges funding for meth victims

Meth is such a scourge that local law enforcement and social agencies say they need help to deal with its youngest victims, the children found in meth homes.

Children of parents addicted to that drug are often subjected to neglect, abuse and violence, and show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder, representatives of Spokane’s Meth Action Team told Sen. Maria Cantwell on Wednesday. These children eat, sleep and play in areas that police only enter wearing special gear to protect against hazardous materials. They do poorly in school because of inadequate nutrition, irregular sleep and bad hygiene.

Most Spokane residents are not aware of how serious methamphetamine is, Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said. “Folks know it’s out there, but they don’t understand the impact,” he said.

To demonstrate that impact, the group showed Cantwell a videotape of a meth house where three children, ages 7 and younger, lived with their parents. It was taped by the Spokane Police Department after arrests were made in April. Food spoiled on the counters next to drug paraphernalia, buckets were used for toilets, and feces were on the furniture and floors; flies filled the rooms, and maggots were in the sheets.

Cantwell said she’s trying to add money to a congressional spending bill that would set aside $40 million in grants for programs to help children affected by meth. She contends the problems created by this highly addictive drug have been “shortchanged” because federal agencies have to find money in existing drug programs, which are facing cuts.

The proposed amendment to the Commerce and Justice spending bill would funnel money into treatment, training, counseling and drug prevention for families. Earlier in the year, other programs to fight meth were approved as part of the reauthorization of the Patriot Act.

Cantwell said the federal government might also have to look at more serious penalties for those convicted of crimes involving meth.