Department of Social Work

Methamphetamine Resources

Resources from conference presenters

PowerPoint Presentations (these are large files and make take a few minutes to load)

Deborah Durkin

Dr. Wendy Haight and Dr. James Black

Dr. Nathaniel Robert Payne

Margaret Munson - MEDA

Keynote Address Research : "In these Bleak Days: Parent Methamphetamine Abuse and Child Welfare in the Rural Midwest"

Meth Education And Drug Awareness ( MEADA) Coalition of Wright County Minnesota

PBS Frontline - The Meth Epidemic

The Oregon Live - Meth an unnecessary epidemic

Colorado Alliance on Drug Endangered Children. Through Colorado Drug Endangered Children, Inc. the state of Colorado has been provided with a comprehensive program that will effectively address the needs of these children. http://www.colodec.org/.

National Jewish Research Center Methamphetamine Research. The State of Colorado as well as the nation face an unprecedented epidemic of clandestine methamphetamine drug manufacturing. Seizures of methamphetamine drug laboratories continue to rise putting police and fire first responders at risk for a variety of hazards. http://www.nmtf.us/geteducated/drugendgrchildren.htm

Idaho ’s First Annual Drug Endangered Children Conference. It is their effort to provide a seamless coordinated community response to children endangered by drugs, including alcohol. http://www.isp.state.id.us/DEC_Conference/materials.html

National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children. The Alliance is comprised of individuals and organizations that are concerned about children endangered by caregivers who manufacture drugs, deal drugs or using them and by doing so physically or psychologically endanger children. http://www.nationaldec.org/index.asp

Drug Endangered Children Program, Riverside County, California. The DEC Program is a multi-agency approach to assist and protect drug-endangered children whose lives are jeopardized by their families illegal manufacturing, sales, possession and use of drugs in the home. The purpose of the Drug Endangered Children Response Team is to intervene on behalf of children who have been exposed to methamphetamine or toxic chemicals as a result of residing in a home-based illicit clandestine drug laboratory and to vigorously prosecute the offending adults. The DEC Response Team will provide a comprehensive county response by Child Protective Services, The District Attorney's Office, Sheriff's Department,  and Public Health Nursing Agencies. This cooperative effort responds to incidents of Drug Endangered Children, ensuring safety to child victims and penalties to the adults who endanger them. http://dec.co.riverside.ca.us/

Drug Endangered Children Program National Hotline. http://www.stopdrugs.org/endangeredkids.html

Illinois State University School of Social Work. A training program for child welfare supervisors. It involves looking at signs of client Methamphetamine use and casework safety procedures. http://www.drugfreeinfo.org/PDFs/strengthensupervision.PDF

Gayle T. Thomas, MSW provides a power point on providing safety and well-being for children In substance-abusing families. It is a model of risk reduction. http://ssw.che.umn.edu/img/assets/4467/HarmReduction.pdf

California Narcotic Officers’ Association and the California Department of ustice (n.d.). The meth crisis. Retrieved January 31, 2006 from, http://www.stopdrugs.org/

Drug Enforcement Administration (n.d.). Methamphetamine. Retrieved January 26, 2006 from, http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/concern/meth_factsheet.html

Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (2002). Methamphetamine. Retrieved January 19, 2006 from, http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/meth.htm

Minnesota Teen Challenge (2004). Methamphetamines still on the rampage. Retrieved January 30, 2006 from, ttp://www.mntc.org/drugs_meth.html

Minnesota Department of Health (2006). Methamphetamine and meth labs: Lab cleanup. Retrieved February 7, 2006 from, http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/meth/lab/labcleanup.html

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2005). Methamphetamine. Retrieved January 24, 2006 from, http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html

National Resource Center for Child Protective Services, A Service of the Children’s Bureau (2005). Safety intervention in methamphetamine using families: A practice guide for safety decision making and safety anagement in child protective services. Retreived February 7, 2006 from, http://www.nrccps.org/PDF/FinalMethintropracticeguidemethoct05.pdf

New Creations: Minnesota Teen Challenge (n.d.). Methamphetamines. Retrieved February 8, 2006 from, http://www.mntc.org/pdf/May04_n.pdf

Office of National Drug Control Policy (2006) Drug facts: Methamphetamines. Retrieved January 24, 2006 from, http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfacts/methamphetamine/index.html

Senate Methamphetamine Legislation (2004). Overview of methamphetamine bills. Retrieved February 7, 2006 from, http://www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/departments/scr/billcomp/2005-2006/regular/chart_overview_meth.htm

The Beachcomber Family Center for Addiction Recovery (2002). Methamphetamines: Fast track to abuse and addiction. Retrieved January 19, 2006 from, http://www.thebeachcomberrehabilitation.com/methamphetamine.html

U.S. Department of Justice (2003). Children at clandestine methamphetamine labs: Helping meth’s youngest victims. Retrieved January 25, 2006 from, http://www.ojp.gov/ovc/publications/bulletins/children/197590.pdf

The list below is from the National Clearninghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information

Statistics and the Scope of the Problem

Fighting Meth in America's Heartland: Assessing the Impact on Local Law Enforcement and Child Welfare Agencies
Part of a series of hearings on the subject of methamphetamine trafficking and abuse, this session was held on July 26, 2005, to determine what Federal, State, and local support systems are needed in order to effectively combat this drug. Statements from Federal agencies, national non-profit organizations, and State and local child welfare agencies are included.

The Meth Epidemic in America: Two Surveys of U.S. Counties: The Criminal Effect of Meth on Communities; The Impact of Meth on Children (PDF 101 KB)
To better understand the extent of the methamphetamine epidemic, the National Association of Counties conducted surveys of law enforcement and county child welfare officials in 2005 to determine the impact of methamphetamine on these county services and their communities.

Behind the Drug: The Child Victims of Meth Labs
In addition to the debilitating health effects of chronic methamphetamine abuse, the toxic and potentially explosive nature of home laboratories and hazardous behaviors associated with the drug's influence place exposed children at special risk. In this 2000 article, the author examines the drug's effects on casual users, binge abusers, and addicts, and how children are placed in jeopardy, especially when the abuser or addict is a parent or guardian.

Meth and Family-Centered Child Welfare Practice
This April 2005 issue of the Practice Notes newsletter for child welfare workers in North Carolina describes the impact of family methamphetamine use and production on children. The articles review risk factors for child maltreatment and suggest techniques for helping families.

Wrap Up: Reflections and Recommendations: "The Meth Phenomenon: What Do We Know?" (PDF 36 KB)
This 2004 report from the Initiative Foundation in Little Falls, Minnesota, explores the methamphetamine problem in the interest of child protection.

Children at Clandestine Methamphetamine Labs: Helping Meth's Youngest Victims (PDF 370 KB)
This June 2003 report discusses the increasing number of children involved in methamphetamine lab-related incidents in the United States, the risks these children face, and child welfare intervention.

Recommended Best Practices Addressing the Needs of Drug Endangered Children (PDF 245 KB)
A Washington State subcommittee appointed by the governor examined existing national and local drug-endangered children programs, pertinent legal issues, and best practices that address the children's needs. The subcommittee's work resulted in the development of these recommendations, published in August 2004.

Arizona Drug Endangered Children (DEC): Multidisciplinary/Integrated Protocol (PDF 159 KB)
The purpose of this multidisciplinary protocol, released in September 2003, is to provide professionals from child protective services, law enforcement, medical services, and prosecution a basis for the development of community-specific procedures for situations where there are drug-endangered children as a result of clandestine methamphetamine labs or other drug production, trafficking, and abuse. Sample forms that are appropriate for use as a part of the DEC protocol are included.

Drug Courts: An Effective Strategy for Communities Facing Methamphetamine (PDF 441 KB)
This Bureau of Justice Assistance Bulletin finds drug courts to be the primary tool for fighting methamphetamine addiction and trafficking, helping children who are exposed to meth use by providing them with health care, educational, and child protective services.

Responding to Methamphetamine: Washington State's Promising Example/ National Crime Prevention Council and Drug Enforcement Administration. (PDF 324 KB)
This 2002 report describes the collaborative approach implemented by Washington State to punish, prevent, and treat methamphetamine addiction. The text reviews the effects of methamphetamine and describes the components of the Washington State initiative, which address the enforcement of laws regarding the operation of laboratories; expanded treatment options, especially for mothers of young children; methods for cleaning up the dangerous chemicals from labs; and the prevention of methamphetamine use.

Responding to Methamphetamine: Combating North Carolina's Fastest Growing Drug Problem: Final Report (PDF 1,426 KB)
The attorney general of North Carolina presided over a summit of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, public health officials, and social service providers in 2003 to identify strategies for addressing methamphetamine use in the State. This report summarizes the findings of workgroups that met during the conference and outlines proposed action strategies.

Nebraska CHEM-L Protocol: Children Exposed to Methamphetamine Laboratories (PDF 799 KB)
This protocol, updated in January 2004, is designed to assist in the assessment of children exposed to methamphetamine labs.

What Foster Parents Need to Know About Methamphetamine.
This article from the May 2005 Fostering Perspectives newsletter by the North Carolina Division of Social Services and the Family and Children's Resource Program addresses the basics of methamphetamine use, its effects on children and families, and the State's response.

Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series 33: Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders
Part of a series from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, this publication provides best practice guidelines for the treatment of stimulant use disorders, which includes the use of methamphetamines.

National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare
The National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) is a service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment and the Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau's Office on Child Abuse and Neglect. NCSACW works to develop knowledge and provide technical assistance to Federal, State, and local agencies and tribes to improve outcomes for families with substance use disorders in the child welfare and family court systems.

Office of National Drug Control Policy: Drug Endangered Children
This website describes risks to Drug Endangered Children and activities initiated by the federal government to protect children who reside in or visit methamphetamine labs. Also included are sample protocols designed to train staff, clarify roles and responsibilities, promote reporting and information sharing, and ensure the safety of children, families, and professionals.

MethResources.gov
This website was established to provide States, counties, cities and communities with information about issues associated with the use of methamphetamines.

Child Welfare Learning Resources Related to Methamphetamine
This April 2005 article in Training Matters, the newsletter of the North Carolina Division of Social Services' Family Support and Child Welfare Services Statewide Training Partnership, addresses child welfare training, policy, and additional resources.

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Methamphetamine
The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a service of the National Institutes of Health within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides an overview of the drug, including street names, effects, usage, prevention, and treatment, as well as summaries of research findings on the drug.

Methamphetamine Clearinghouse
Hosted by the National Crime Prevention Council in coordination with the Midwestern Governor's Conference and the Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services within the U.S. Department of Justice, the Methamphetamine Clearinghouse provides a forum for the dissemination of effective practices related to reducing the production, distribution, and use of methamphetamine.