Child Advocacy Banquet

Please join us for lunch as we present the following awards:

* Child Advocate of the Year

*Child Advocate Organization of the Year.

This year's banquet will be a celebration of those who advocate and care for children and for those who strive to improve the welfare of children and their families through support for the prevention of substance abuse and child abuse and neglect.

Friday, April 13 at 12:00 p.m.

Tyler Van-Dusen

Alma College

Tickets are $10 a person

Contact Child Advocacy at (989) 463-1422

to purchase tickets 

METHAMPHETAMINE: CHILDREN AT RISK

This is part two of our series on METH. Below are risks to children, behaviors exhibited by parents, and some things children may experience if their parents are using or manufacturing METH. As I said last month this is a growing problem in our communities. One of the best ways you can prevent future drug use by your children is to talk to your kids. Research shows parents are still the #1 influence in their children's lives. As a parent, if you are unsure how to approach this topic with your child visit www.theantidrug.com for helpful tips.

Risks to children include:      

• Exposure to explosive, flammable, toxic ingredients stored in kitchen cabinets, bathrooms and bedrooms
• Access to meth and paraphernalia (including needles)
• Presence of loaded weapons in the home and booby traps (due to paranoia of meth users)
• Physical and sexual abuse
• Exposure to high risk populations (sexual abusers, violent drug users)
• Neglect including poor nutrition and poor living conditions

Parents who use meth may exhibit:

• Extreme mood fluctuations
• Violent behavior
• Depression
• Poor impulse control
• Lack of attention to hygiene
• Acute psychotic episodes
• Poly-drug abuse

As meth use continues, the parent is often unable to meet the basic needs of the child. Due to changes in the brain chemistry, the parent may lose the capacity to provide appropriate care for children in the home.

Children whose parents use or manufacture meth may experience: 

• Respiratory problems
• Delayed speech and language skills
• Elevated risk for kidney problems and leukemia
• Malnourishment
• Poor school performance/attendance problems
• Isolation
• Lack of immunizations and medical care
• Poor dental health
• Hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders
• Lice
• Obesity
• Developmental problems
• Violent behavior
• Drug usage
• Lack of boundaries/attachment to strangers

If you would like more information on this topic visit www.drugfree.org/meth or you can contact Lisa Cannon, Coordinator for the Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition at 989-462-0142 or lisa@linkforfamilies.org.