Police say meth is one of the biggest risks for children in Whitley County

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (WANE) - The Whitley County Sheriff's Department and the county's Department of Child Services are encouraging community members to report incidents of suspected methamphetamine production and use.  Whitley County is among those Indiana areas battling this illegal drug and the impact it has on families.

Law enforcement in the county said one of the biggest risk to children's safety in the county is meth, which is why it has teamed up with DCS to get children out of meth homes quickly.

"There's only about a six percent success rate of kicking the meth habit," said Whitley County Sheriff Mark Hodges.  "The sooner we can get o the children, and get them removed from that type of atmosphere, the better it will be for them."

According to the sheriff's department, 10 meth labs were seized in Whitley County in 2012 with 36 meth-related arrests.

Steve Weaver, the county's DCS director estimated about half of the meth busts he has seen had children present in the home.

"Safety is our number one concern for all the kids," Weaver said.

Both departments encourage anyone who suspects meth to call police.  An anonymous tip can be left at 260-248-3155 or at 800-800-5556.  Weaver said there are signs people can look for to see if a child lives in a home with someone who suffers from a meth addiction.

"With a parent's use of meth, you may very well see a drastic change in a child's well-being," he said.  "For example, children that used to appear clean and well kept, now appear with unclean clothes, lack of hygiene, or being outside the home unsupervised, possibly missing school, perhaps looking thinner than before."

Meth has become such a concern in the county that the county's drug task force now spends about 80 percent of its time battling meth-related crimes.

"We're just seeing more evidence of children being involved, or being incorporated in it one way or another," said Hodges.  "Obviously, not in their own choosing.  We just want to get the word out tot he public that if things don't look right, give us a call."