Community News 10/09/09
National conference promotes resources for drug-endangered kids
By Craig Howard
News Editor

Hundreds of people from throughout the U.S. gathered in Spokane last month with a single mission – to protect children endangered by drugs through a collaboration of local, state and federal resources.

The sixth annual National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children Conference took place Sept. 22-24 at the Red Lion Inn in downtown Spokane with over 400 attendees representing 30 states, 13 tribal nations and Canada.
Esther Larsen, project director for the Spokane County Drug Endangered Children chapter, said the event emphasized the importance of various entities working together to shield kids from environments impacted by drugs and alcohol – the support team  includes law enforcement, medical professionals, treatment providers, prevention specialists and residents of the community.

“If we try to solve the problem together, we’re going to have a better result,” said Larsen, who also works as the grant coordinator for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. “It’s a matter of getting more people involved and generating that awareness.”

The local DEC alliance began in 2003 as a project to address the increasing number of children found in homes where methamphetamine was being discovered. In a report distributed by Spokane County that year, children found in these and other drug environments were described as “highly traumatized, troubled and developmentally delayed.”

Spokane Valley Police Chief Rick Van Leuven helped develop community-wide protocols for the DEC project as commander of the Regional Drug Task Force prior to moving on to his current role. He describes how law enforcement worked with agencies like Child Protective Services to ensure there was a safe placement for kids once police disrupted homes where drug manufacturing and/or use was suspected.

“We had the search warrant and CPS was right there,” Van Leuven said. “It’s about breaking that cycle of danger and criminal activity.”

Van Leuven said the collaborative approach includes beneficial services like medical and dental care as well as counseling. Local organizations like Lutheran Community Services and Partners with Families and Children provide help with advocacy and resource management.
“It made the safety net better,” Van Leuven said.

Since 2003, the Spokane County DEC project has received $1.8 million in federal grants and helped over 800 drug endangered children find safe refuge.
Van Leuven pointed out that while government agencies and nonprofit groups have helped to establish more awareness about drug endangered kids, the average citizen can provide critical assistance in protecting kids at risk. When residents call to report a suspected drug home, the Spokane County Prosecutor’s Office moves the information into a file reserved for DEC cases that receives top priority.

“If people are aware of children in an environment where they are endangered, abused or neglected, they should report it,” Van Leuven said.
The conference included workshops on a variety of topics, including adverse childhood experiences, prescription drug abuse and the impacts of prenatal exposure to substances and their affect on the baby.

The American Council for Drug Education reports that alcohol use during pregnancy can result in fetal alcohol syndrome, a condition that includes birth defects to the developing skull, heart and limbs. Smoking can cause miscarriages, premature birth and impeded fetal growth.

Use of cocaine, methamphetamine or other amphetamines during pregnancy can inhibit fetal growth, cause miscarriages or result in a newborn who is drug dependent. The ACDE also refers to studies showing that children born to mothers who use amphetamines suffer from learning disabilities.

There is now more understanding about the dangers associated with prescription drugs and pregnancy. According to the European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, opiate drugs, including prescription medications like hydrocodone, oxycodone and codeine taken by the expectant mother can cause tremors, growth challenges and other detrimental side effects in a newborn.

Linda Thompson, executive director of the Greater Spokane Substance Abuse Council, said the conference brought to light “the ripple effect” of drugs that goes beyond simply those with substance abuse issues.

“I think it’s important to think about how your actions affect the next generation,” Thompson said. “We talk about people who make the decision to use drugs, but the children in these cases don’t have a choice.”

Several presenters at the conference spoke about their path back from abuse and neglect, emphasizing the life-changing influence of mentors, teachers and friends. Larsen pointed out that programs like Goodwill’s Mentoring Children of Promise and Big Brothers/Big Sisters can help children find stability and direction, replacing uncertainty with purpose.

“People think, ‘I’m just one person – I can’t make a difference,’” Larsen said. “But people can make a difference in the life of a child.”
Larsen and other members of the local DEC project are in the process of organizing similar alliances in counties throughout Washington state. While Larsen is encouraged by the strides made to protect drug-endangered children in Spokane County and beyond, she said there is still work to be done.

“I think things have improved for children,” she said. “There’s a lot of hope and awareness out there. I just don’t want to lose our momentum or become complacent.”