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June 23, 2000
The number of Utah children put into foster homes because of drugs is rising.
But it's not the children who are doing drugs -- it's the parents.
Police took six children into custody yesterday, because their parents were doing drugs.
And the sad thing is, according to police, that scenario is played out again and again in Utah.
News Specialist Scott Light tells us what happened and how common the situation is.
The two adults are in jail, arrested on felony cocaine possession and possibly felony child endangerment charges.
The six kids are in protective custody with the state.
We spoke to one official who says more and more case workers are dealing with parents who lose their children because of drugs.
Dennis Roybal was arrested Thursday after police raided a residence and found drugs.
Six children, ages eight months to 10 years old were found there too.
In this case, the drug of choice was cocaine.
A woman, Deon Roybal, is also arrested in this case, but hasn't been processed yet.
Sgt. Jim Bell/Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE CHILDREN KNEW WHERE THE DRUGS WERE. THEY WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY AND THAT CAUSES US TO TAKE CHILDREN AND PUT THEM IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY."
Lisa Jorgensen is one social worker who knows how drugs affect a household.
She deals with one drug only. Almost 100 percent of her time is spent helping kids whose parents are hooked on methamphetamine.
Lisa Jorgensen/Child and Family Services: "WHEN THEY'RE USING METH, THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT THE DRUG AND THAT LEAVES AN AWFUL LOT OF KIDS AT RISK."
In all, 60 to 65 percent of cases in the Salt Lake area are related to meth.
So are the numbers of people getting help from the state for meth addiction.
DCFS numbers show in 1994, 346 people sought treatment for meth addiction.
By last year, that number jumped almost 1000 percent - to 2,882.
Alcohol is still the biggest addiction problem in Utah.
Of those in state treatment programs last year:
- 7,500 alcohol
- 3,000 marijuana
- 1,521 cocaine
- 1,438 heroin
The legislature tried to address the problem in the last session.
Under a new law, a situation like Thurday's could find parents faced with felony charges.
Older laws have only misdemeanors.
"WE HAVEN'T HAD THE MECHANISM TO DEAL WITH IT FOR A WHILE AND NOW WE DO."
The six kids are in an emergency shelter and will have a hearing early next week to determine if they will be placed with relatives, in foster care, or elsewhere.
