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19 Child L. Prac. 1 (2000-2001)

handle is hein.journals/chilawpt19 and id is 1 raw text is: CTh i .d Practice Vol. 19 No. 1 IN PRACTICE March 2000 Helping Lawyers Help Kids Methamphetamine: The Big Red Flag by Claire Sandt An Oregon mother: By the time I was full-blown into meth, my head was on fire all the time. I couldn't stand the sight of my kids-I'd scream for them to get the hell in their rooms. I didn't want to look at them. I would smack or back- hand them about nothing. I threw things. Once I had a perfect set of pots and pans and they're all dented now. If I hit them and they cried, I got more pissed because it was like God's way of getting me back. But once I remember looking at my 13-year-old daughter when she was covered with scratches and bruises. I re- member telling her I didn't know what to do, and I remem- ber thinking to myself, My God, look what I've done to you, and I don't think we're going to be able to pull our lives back together. Source: The Oregonlan, August 22, 1999. M ethamphetamine (meth) is emerging as a drug of choice for many adults throughout the country. It is popular because it is cheap and easy to make, and provides a longer-lasting high than other drugs. No other drug poses nearly as many risks to children and families. As an attorney, judge, or caseworker involved in the child welfare system, you need to know what meth is, how it affects the user, the risks it poses to children, and how to intervene to protect children and families. What Meth Is Meth is a highly potent, addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It comes in many forms: pills, capsules, powder resem- bling granulated crystals, and chunks or rocks (known as ice). It can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested, or injected. It was originally derived from amphetamine for use in nasal decon- gestants and bronchial inhalers. Meth is now illegal, except for limited medical purposes, such as treating weight control, narcolepsy, and attention deficit disorder. Common street names for meth are speed, crank, go-fast, zip, and cristy. The smokable form of meth is referred to as L.A., ice, crystal, 64glass, or quartz. How Meth Afftcts the User Meth affects users in different ways depending on how it is taken. If it is smoked or injected intravenously, the user experiences an extremely pleasur- able intense rush or flash that lasts a few minutes. If it is snorted or taken orally, it produces euphoria, but not a rush. Meth stimulates brain cells by releasing high levels of the natural chemical dopamine. Dopamine enhances mood and body movement. Users may become addicted quickly and use meth frequently and in higher doses as their tolerance levels increase. Often dubbed poor man's co- caine, meth has similar behavioral and physiological effects on the user as cocaine. Because meth stays in the (Continued on page 2) What's Inside: 3 CASE LAW UPDATE 10 HEALTH MATTERS If You Don't Think Health Care is Your Job, Think Again 12 ATTORNEY PROFILE Making it Solo 14 AROUND TOWN Child Welfire Events Calendar 16 VIEWS FROM THE BENCH Curtailing Continuances E-mail: childlawpractice@staff.abanet.org * lntemet: http://www.abanet.org/child

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