Authorities and community members rally to keep children out of methamphetamine labs

By Staff Writer

More than 1,000 of the methamphetamine labs that have been raided in Arkansas over the last decade have been in residences that house children.

According to The Associated Press (AP), federal, state and local officials pledged on Monday to combine their medical, legal and social services to help protect at-risk children. The news provider reports that kids who grow up around drug dealers are more likely to be killed or injured, and suffer physical and sexual abuse. They are also vulnerable to malnutrition and emotional neglect.

Environmental professionals at Clark Seif Clark (CSC), a consulting agency, say that meth production endangers not only the people in the labs but also neighbors and future building occupants. CSC reports that lab fires, explosions and chemical poisoning are some of the severe risks of living near a meth lab.

A team of professionals including prosecutors, doctors, teachers and child advocates have teamed up to combat the problem in Arkansas, the AP reports. Officials with the group say that cocaine, heroin and marijuana distributors will be targeted as well.