FAMILY SUPPORT STAFF LEARNS MORE ABOUT METH

Family Support Workers deal with all kinds of situations and issues.

Drug issues — methamphetamine in particular — are of special interest
to them because their safety and the safety of the children they help
can be jeopardized.

With so many meth families nowadays, it can be really dangerous for
our employees and the children," said Lori Cheshier, administrator of
Pathfinder Support Services in Fremont. "It seems like every case we
get is related to drugs of some sort."

That's why the 24 Family Support Workers of Pathfinder Support
Services who work in Fremont, Columbus and the surrounding areas were
taught about methamphetamine this week. Pathfinder Services has a
contract with Child Protective Services to supervise visits.

Detective Shane Wimer of the Fremont Police Department taught the
Family Support Workers what to be aware of in homes where
methamphetamine is a known problem, He also explained what they
should look for if the problem is unknown.

You're literally cooking when you use meth. Your blood pressure and
pulse soar," Wimer said. "You can look at them and actually see their
eyes twitching or their arteries pounding if somebody's been doing
meth. Now is the time to stay away from them."

He said another sign of methamphetamine use is if a person who has
never been aggressive before is now aggressive and agitated. Users
will often have disorganized behavior, act agitated, intoxicated or
possibly mentally handicapped.

Tweakers believe there are crank bugs on their skin," Wimer said.
Their pores become plugged and they get sores on their skin that they
pick at, sometimes until there are holes in their skin."

Workers saw a picture of a woman whose hair and teeth had fallen out
after 10 years of meth use. Several pictures taken months apart were
displayed of another meth user showing how her appearance
consistently declined as she neared death.

If you believe somebody's under the influence of meth, don't trust
them," Wimer said. "When approaching or talking to someone on meth,
safety should be most important to you."

When somebody is under the influence, he said, they become paranoid
and think everyone is working for the police and that seven to 10
feet is a safe distance.

You need to know your clients, know if they use and know if something
is different about them," Wimer said. "If you believe they're under
the influence you need to leave and call the police."

Things like hollowed out soup cans, water bottles and other household
items were displayed and he said should also cause concern.
Components commonly used in methamphetamine labs and the chemicals
involved also were discussed and examples of the drugs were displayed.

If somebody is just done cooking meth, there are a lot of dangerous
chemicals around and you should get away and keep the kids away," Wimer said.

He said the smoke from methamphetamine most likely would not affect
the workers or the children, but people who are under the influence
of the drug should be avoided.

Training like this really helps so they learn what to look for,"
Cheshier said. "This way they remember a lot better than what they
read in a book."

She said her office gets a warning from Child Protective Services as
to why the children have been removed and often are required to get a
clean drug screen before parents can see their kids.

Usually if people want to see their kids, they will stay clean for
the visit, but not everybody cares to see their kids," Cheshier said.
It's a serious health and safety concern for us. You're going right
into that person's house and you need to know what you're dealing with."