Serving on the front lines

Rick Berry, Child Protection Services investigator

A child protection investigator the past seven years, Berry has been in meth houses all over the Salt Lake Valley. He often accompanies police on raids where children are present. He assesses the home environment, physical and chemical hazards, and he determines child placement.

Children, he said, are exposed to things well beyond their years.

"There's porn in every single meth home I've been in," he said.

Karen Buchi, University of Utah pediatrician

Buchi is one of the few researchers looking into the effects of meth exposure in children. There are currently no published articles about postnatal exposure, she said.

"We need to know about these kids who are living in these meth homes."

Buchi has tested hair samples from 425 kids ages 5 to 18, including 81 who lived in homes with meth labs. Nearly half tested positive for meth.

Jeanlee Carver, medical supervisor, Weber-Morgan Children's Justice Center

Carver sees about 100 neglected, abandoned and drug-exposed children a year. Many experience tremors, convulsions and sleeplessness. They have bad teeth, low weight and skin rashes.

Using hair samples, she tests for meth more than any other drug. About 85 percent return positive.

"I think the biggest concern is, we don't know what's going to happen to these kids," she said. "Will it be social problems? Will it be violence? Will it be paranoia?"

Pat Fleming, director, Salt Lake County Substance Abuse Services

The state needs to look at meth abuse as a health issue rather than a criminal issue, he said. In almost all cases, it is cheaper to treat users rather than put them in prison.

But rehab programs often have waiting lists, as do the few residential treatment centers where women can stay with their children.

"I'm trying to figure out how to crack this nut of getting more resources in."

Amber Foster, DCFS case worker

Almost all of her clients are involved with meth. Many have lost custody of their children and are working for reunification through Family Drug Court.