title: What do we know about drug-endangered children when they are first placed into care?
abstract: Although the methamphetamine epidemic in the United States has caught the attention of law enforcement and the media, the needs of the children living in so-called "meth homes" have not yet been addressed. These children are endangered from not only the chemicals involved, but also parental abuse and/or neglect. Little is known, however, about how drug-endangered children are faring. This article summarizes the levels of health and well-being of drug-endangered children at the time they were removed from meth homes. Differences between children whose parents use meth and whose parents use other drugs are noted. Overall, the subjects are a highly traumatized, troubled, developmentally delayed group of very young children.
authors.affiliation: Spokane County Superior Court, USA.
authors.forename: Sandra J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Altshuler
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cleverly-Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D014861:Washington