Rekha Basu has an opinion piece in the Register against a bill making it a form of child endangerment to allow kids to live in a home where meth is manufactured. She equates meth with marijuana and alcohol and opines that it is hypocritical to criminalize having kids around meth users while allowing them around alcoholics:



“But children in homes dominated by alcohol abuse may not be much safer. According to the National Council on Alcoholism Web site, alcohol is the most widely used "psychoactive drug" in the United States and the third-leading cause of preventable deaths, after tobacco and diet-related ills. About 18 million Americans have alcohol problems, compared to 5 million to 6 million with drug problems. One-quarter of all emergency-room admissions, one-third of all suicides and more than half of homicides are alcohol-related.”



I happen to know about the dangers of meth manufacture – not meth use, meth manufacture – through my background as a prosecutor. But even a simple internet search will bring up a host of sites listing something close to the following:



“Exposure to low levels of some meth ingredients may produce headache, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue; exposure to high levels can produce shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain, dizziness, lack of coordination, eye and tissue irritation, chemical burns (to the skin, eyes, mouth, and nose), and death. Corrosive substances may cause injury through inhalation or contact with the skin. Solvents can irritate the skin, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract and affect the central nervous system. Chronic exposure to the chemicals typically used in meth manufacture may cause cancer; damage the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, and immunologic system; and result in birth defects. Normal cleaning will not remove methamphetamine and some of the chemicals used to produce it. They may remain on eating and cooking utensils, floors, countertops, and absorbent materials. Toxic byproducts of meth manufacturing are often improperly disposed outdoors, endangering children and others who live, eat, play, or walk at or near the site.”



Think about it – one of the primary ingredients in meth is anhydrous ammonia. If you go on another quick web search to agricultural sites dealing with meth use and handling, you’ll see articles like this one from the CDC:





National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Anhydrous means "without water."' Because NH3 CONTAINS NO WATER, it is attracted to any form of moisture. If exposed to NH3 -- immediately flush the exposed body area(s) with water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention immediately after emergency first aid treatment.

Don't be blind to the dangers of Anhydrous Ammonia! Potential health hazards are:

• Blindness,

• Lung Damage,

• Burns, and

• Death



CHECKLIST FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA SAFETY

• Wear personal protective equipment,

• Always have ample water supply,

• Inspect and replace hoses and valves as needed,

• Never fill a tank over 85 percent of capacity,

• Bleed off hose pressure before disconnecting,

• Stay clear of hose and valve openings,

• Follow regulations when using equipment,

• Have qualified technician repair tank, and

• Use proper hitch, safety chains and Slow Moving Vehicle sign when towing.



or this:



Iowa State University Extension

It's easier to prevent accidental spills of anhydrous ammonia than it is to treat them. Accidental exposure to the liquid fertilizer can result in serious burns, blindness and even death.

Use these tips to reduce your risks:

• Always keep water handy--in your shirt pocket, on the tractor or truck, and with the nurse tank. Water, or some other non-toxic, non-caustic fluid, can be used to flush areas exposed to anhydrous ammonia.

• Always wear protective gear, such as rubber gloves, ventless goggles or a full-face shield, and a long-sleeved shirt whenever you work with anhydrous ammonia.

• Use safety chains and approved hitchpins when transporting ammonia tanks or other application equipment.

• Avoid wearing contact lenses when working with anhydrous ammonia. Contact lenses intensify burns.

• Never put your head or body parts in direct line of valve openings.

• Remember that anhydrous is under extreme pressure, which increases on warm days. A broken hose can literally strike anywhere. Treat ammonia hoses and valves as "loaded guns" and stay clear of the safety relief valve.

• Check valves for corrosion and hoses for cracks or signs of wear.

Relieve pressure before you disconnect or reconnect hoses or parts. Close and lock valves and disconnect hoses when the nurse tank is unattended.



Let’s not forget that the labs have a nasty tendency to explode. Many of them would have gone completely undetected, except for the fact that the building blew up. The figures I found on the web indicate about 15% of the labs are discovered this way. Not only is the anhydrous volatile, but the hydrogenerators used in the manufacturing process “constitute bombs waiting to be ignited by a careless act.”



The dangers to children living in meth labs – not around meth users, but in meth labs – are vastly compounded from those simply living with a drug or alcohol addict. They not only face all the abuse issues, but there are these fundamental safety concerns. According to Ms. Basu, the bill was originally broader, but was narrowed to address only meth. Because of these special safety concerns, I agree with the narrower version.



Finally, Ms. Basu brings up the Domestic Violence Coalitions opposition to the bill based on the chance it could be used to prosecute victims of domestic violence who choose to stay with an abuser in a home where meth is being manufactured. This is accurate. It could be used either to prosecute the abuser or the survivor, but I’m afraid that is beside the point. I agree with many of the coalition’s stances on issues, I should point out as a bias alert that I was a VAWA-funded domestic violence special prosecutor for three years. But I part ways with them on many issues involving the children and involving collateral prosecutions. This case is one of them.



The purpose of the bill is not to punish domestic violence survivors. They can be prosecuted under this bill, as can anyone else who chooses to live in a home where meth is manufactured. It is facially neutral, applicable to anyone.



I understand their concern that women may find themselves in a potential catch-22 situation in that it is dangerous to leave and dangerous to stay. Of course, that dilemma is inherent in any dv situation. The same argument is used to argue for keeping custody with a woman living in an abusive relationship, particularly where the kids are in jeopardy. I recall a certain situation in which a drug user threatened his family with a loaded gun, among other violent acts. The argument was made against referral to the juvenile prosecutor for removal of the children from the home because of exactly the type of catch-22 argued against here. But the state cannot close its eyes to the plight of the children simply because it enhances the dilemma of the mother. I understand that it places the mother in a difficult situation. But responsibility for that situation needs to be thrown straight back at the abuser, not at the state.