Abstract:
The presence of children in New Zealand methamphetamine laboratories is an area of growing concern, however little research exists into this phenomenon. This research aimed to collate background information relating to children living or present in New Zealand methamphetamine laboratories, the direct and indirect dangers to which they were exposed, and the actions of agencies dealing with these children. Data available from the New Zealand Police relating to methamphetamine laboratories in which children were living or present from 2006 to 2010 (inclusive) were analysed and an audit of historical New Zealand Police and Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited (ESR) files relating to these laboratories for 2008 and 2009 was carried out. Access to Child, Youth and Family (CYF) files relating to these children was declined. Research showed the presence of children in methamphetamine laboratories was an issue in New Zealand, with children living or present in 34% of laboratories seized in 2010. The many direct and indirect harms to which New Zealand methamphetamine laboratory children were exposed were similar to those seen in research regarding methamphetamine laboratory children overseas. ESR data from 2008 and 2009 relating to swabs collected from the laboratories confirmed that some of the children living in the laboratories risked exposure to methamphetamine, while toxicology data available for these children from 2008 and 2009 showed a high percentage of children tested were exposed to methamphetamine. While Police and ESR actions show that the welfare of New Zealand methamphetamine laboratory children is of growing concern to these agencies, efforts to protect these children appear hampered by a lack of appropriate legislation to allow the prosecution of offenders. Various legislation relating to methamphetamine laboratory children is in place in overseas jurisdictions, as well as Drug Endangered Children (DEC) programmes, protocols for dealing with methamphetamine laboratory children, drug courts, and education and rehabilitation programmes. The current research shows that children in New Zealand methamphetamine laboratories are a serious concern. Urgent action should be taken to put relevant legislation and other initiatives in place in order to prevent further harm, serious injury or death.