2. 1. Reflection Page 1 – Slide 3 2. Research Article Summaries – Slides 4 - 8 3. Charts and Tables – Slides 9 – 13 4. Final Reflection Paper – Slide 14 5. Works Cited – Slide 15

3. REFLECTION PAGE ONE I have chosen to further research the topic, “Mothers on Meth and Kids at Risk.” I have a personal interest in this topic because of my own family situation. I have adopted two grandchildren who were placed in my home by the Utah Division of Family Services as a result of their mother’s drug abuse. While the extent of usage during pregnancy with the children is unclear, both were exposed to the chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine. They were very young (under 2 years of age) at the time but were abused and neglected as a result of their mother’s addiction. Methamphetamine abuse has reached epidemic levels in the United States, with high levels of use in the West and Midwest. Methamphetamine, often called crystal meth or crank, is easily produced in amateur labs set up in homes of users. Withdrawal and recovery are very difficult. I look forward to learning about mothers of meth and kids at risk and hope that the information I find can not only educate me but shed light on what issues I may face in the future with my children and ways I can help them the most.

4. Utah’s law enforcement, substance abuse, child welfare and treatment systems all are overloaded. Women of all races, backgrounds and economic circumstances are using meth, getting addicted, losing their jobs, ignoring their children and resorting to criminal and uncharacteristic behavior to keep using the drug. DCFS says some "shelter" parents who house children from meth environments are giving them back. The children are simply too hard to handle. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595104726/Meth- emergency-Use-soaring-among-Utah-females.html

5.  A child living at a meth lab may inhale or swallow toxic substances or inhale the secondhand smoke of adults who are using meth.  Exposure to meth ingredients may cause headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue; exposure to high levels can cause shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, dizziness, lack of coordination, eye irritation, chemical burns) and death.  Chronic exposure to chemicals used in meth manufacturing may cause cancer; damage the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and immune system; and result in birth defects  Children living at meth labs are at increased risk for severe neglect and are more likely to be physically and sexually abused by family members and known individuals at the site. Child Endangerment in Meth Labs http://meth-kills.org/meth-lab-dangers.html

6. Pregnant moms who use meth can pass some of these behavioral problems onto their kids. In a recent study, Dr. Linda LaGasse and her team tracked 330 youngsters ages 3 through 5 from areas of the West and Midwest where meth use is most common. Research showed that at age 3, scores for anxiety, depression and moodiness were in meth-users' children. Older children exposed to meth also had more aggression and attention problems similar to ADHD. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57399803- 10391704/moms-meth-use-during-pregnancy-causes- kids-behavioral-problems/

7. Children of drug abusers have a high lifetime risk of becoming substance abusers themselves -- as much as four times higher. Methamphetamine-exposed children were more emotionally reactive, became nervous and disturbed by change, as well as anxious and depressed. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_123088.html

8. In one study, more than half of women in the Salt Lake County jail tested positive for meth. Programs such as Moms off Meth in Iowa are helping mothers break their addiction and aiding in their fight to regain custody of their children. http://instruct.westvalley.edu/faulstich/meth_handout.pdf

9. DEPRESSION ANXIETY DISORDERS ATTENTION-DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD) BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS (ACTING OUT) DRUG ABUSE (4 TIMES AS LIKELY)

10. COMMON DEMOGRAPHICS OF WOMEN METH USERS DEPRESSED DEPENDENT ON MALE FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT RELATIVELY UNEDUCATED UNSKILLED OVERWHELMED WITH CHILDCARE RESPONSIBILITIES

11. 2005 Primary Drug of Abuse at Treatment Admission:

12. HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO CHEMICAL EXPOSURE SHORTNESS OF BREATH/COUGHING CHEST PAIN DIZZINESS LACK OF COORDINATION CHEMICAL BURNS EYE AND TISSUE IRRITATION DEATH

13. DANGERS TO CHILDREN OF METH USERS CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS ABUSE AND NEGLECT HAZARDOUS LIFESTYLES EXPOSURE TO HAZARDOUS WASTE POOR HYGIENE CONTAMINATED FOOD AND DRINK PHYSICAL HAZARDS (GUNS, ATTACK ANIMALS) EXPOSURE TO OVERT SEXUAL MATERIALS OR ACTIVITY

14. Through my research I discovered that Methamphetamine abuse is reaching epidemic proportions in the United States, especially in the West and Midwest states. In Utah, nearly half of women incarcerated in the Salt Lake County Jail tested positive for meth. The majority of these women have children who suffer long-reaching effects due to lifestyle, chemical exposure, health and social problems. While recovery programs are available, many women cannot obtain treatment and those who do have limited success. Mothers on meth has become a serious social problem in society today.

15. “Kids of Meth-Using Moms at Risk of Behavioral Woes”, http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_123088.ht ml, Web. 19 Mar 2012. 02 Apr 2012. “Meth Emergency: Use Soaring Among Utah Females,” http://www.deseretnews.com/article/595104726/Meth- emergency-Use-soaring-among-Utah-females.html?pg=1, Web. 15 Nov 2004. 02 Apr 2012. “Mom’s Meth Use During Pregnancy Causes Kids’ Behavioral Problems”, http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162- 57399803-10391704/moms-meth-use-during-pregnancy-causes- kids-behavioral-problems/, Web. 19 Mar 2012. 02 Apr 2012., Web. 20 Jul 11 “Meth Lab Child Dangers”, http://meth-kills.org/ Web. 02 Apr 2012. “The Meth Epidemic”, http://instruct.westvalley.edu/faulstich/meth_handout.pdf, Web. 02 Apr 2012.