Eastern Kentucky University
Methamphetamines: Providing Preventative Resources for Educators
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Michele Gore
Abstract
Methamphetamines have quickly become the new drug epidemic in the United States. They are now widespread across the nation and small home meth labs have developed in almost every state. Home meth labs have become a problem because the ingredients to make the powerful drug are easy to come by and there are endless recipes available on the internet on how to make it. Upon taking a closer look, we see that methamphetamines not only harm the bodies that they are being snorted, inhaled, ingested, or injected into, but also the communities in which there are small home labs and more importantly the children that live in those homes. Just being in the home leads to many short and long term health problems for children, puts them at higher risk for abuse and neglect, as well as putting them in extreme danger due to the instability of the chemicals used in the cooking process. There are many training programs available for police departments, health care professionals, and social service agencies in how to detect and deal with home meth labs. There, however, needs to be additional training for other professionals who encounter these vulnerable children. One primary avenue that could be pursued is a training program for teachers so that they can learn how to identify children that may be exposed to meth and how to address the problem as educators. Through research and community assessment this project will identify a need for such a program and provide the tools and resources needed for dissemination of materials to schools.
Methamphetamines: Providing Preventative Resources for Educators
Methamphetamines have quickly become the new drug epidemic in the United States. They are now widespread across the nation and small home meth labs have developed in almost every state. Home meth labs have become a problem because the ingredients to make the powerful drug are easy to come by and there are endless recipes available on the internet on how to make it. Upon taking a closer look, we see that methamphetamines not only harm the bodies that they are being snorted, inhaled, ingested, or injected into, but also the communities in which there are small home labs and more importantly the children that live in those homes. Just being in the home leads to many short and long term health problems for children, puts them at higher risk for abuse and neglect, as well as putting them in extreme danger due to the instability of the chemicals used in the cooking process. There are many training programs available for police departments, health care professionals, and social service agencies in how to detect and deal with home meth labs. There, however, needs to be additional training for other professionals who encounter these vulnerable children. One primary avenue that could be pursued is a training program for teachers so that they can learn how to identify children that may be exposed to meth and how to address the problem as educators. Through research and community assessment this project will identify a need for such a program and provide the tools and resources needed for dissemination of materials to schools.