While a mother of three is using meth on a regular basis, she most likely isn’t thinking, “I need to pay more attention to my children,” or “This could be affecting my children’s health.”

Meth users, along with those addicted to other drugs, have the power to severely affect the lives of their loved ones. The fact that they are the only ones using the illegal drug doesn’t stop the consequences of their actions to carry over into the lives of their family members.

Children of meth users can experience asthma or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, along with other emotional problems.

Jasper County Department of Social Services deals with meth cases on a daily basis.

Parents who use meth regularly have serious consequences to deal with if and when their drug problem is discovered. Parenting problems occur when meth is being used in the household.

“We get reports of lack of supervision,” said Donald Gurley, social services supervisor.

The lack of supervision occurs when the parent is using meth and not sleeping for 10-12 days at a time. After that time period, the adult could sleep for three days, leaving children unattended.

Tim Dittmer, specialized training assessment resources support and skills specialist of JCDSS, said sexual abuse is oftentimes triggered by meth use.

“It seems to increase sex drives and lower inhibitions,” Dittmer said.

The main reason children are removed from families of meth users is not necessarily for the meth use, merely the problems that go along with a parent using meth.

Gurley said JCDSS does not hold the authority to physically go in and remove a child from parental custody. A court order is required along with local law enforcement to physically remove a child from the home.

“Our judges will immediately remove children out of a home that contains an active meth lab,” Gurley said.

If a court order is received and children are removed from the home, they are placed with another family unit such as grandparents or an aunt and uncle. If a safe family unit is not available, the children are then put into temporary foster care.

Most of the cases dealing with parents using meth occur with mothers.

Many of these moms don’t have jobs and are doing illegal things to obtain meth.

The parent is placed into a 72-hour assessment in which the JCDSS requests a urine analysis to determine whether or not the parent is using drugs.

The 72-hour meeting is not merely the parents versus the JCDSS. Gurley said a team is formed to decide what needs to be done to change the situation. The team includes a social service worker and supervisor, juvenile officer, the guardian “ad litem,” the child’s attorney, natural parents, foster parents and anyone else the parent would like to attend the meetings. The team then decides what progress needs to be made and makes plans for the next 30 days until the next meeting.

The team continues to meet to keep track of the progress of the parent and to ensure the parent is no longer using drugs.

Random urine analyses are requested from the parent in no particular order to ensure the adult is off meth.

“Besides the addiction, we have to look at criminal charges,” Gurley said. “Depending on the meeting or what the prosecution charge is, criminal charges are always filed for meth and child endangerment. Sometimes the parents may go to jail.”

In order to regain custody of their children, persons addicted to meth must complete a rehabilitation program. The Lafayette House sponsors some of these programs.

While the JCDSS tries to ensure the parents are clean, visitations are scheduled between the child and parent. Visitations are held either at the Family Services Department or at a public place, such as Burger King.

In some cases, children who are in foster care are not able to return home with their parents. Within 15-22 months the children in foster care find a permanent adoptive home.

While it can be a tough process for the parent and child, the JCDSS does everything possible to get the family back together.

“We have seen successes,” Dittmer said.