Researchers studying childhood deaths in Arizona say methamphetamines appeared to play a role in one out of five cases where the death was a
result of maltreatment. The Arizona Childhood Fatality Review Team's annual report, released Tuesday, showed that 21 of the 102 child deaths linked to drug and alcohol use by a parent or care giver in 2004 were due to meth.
Alcohol and other drugs contributed to 10 percent of all childhood deaths last year. Researchers dug through the case histories of the 1,048 child deaths in 2004 to find the root cause of their deaths. "We need better funding for substance abuse programs," said Dr. Mary Rimsza, a pediatrician and Arizona State University researcher and professor who heads the yearly report. "Not put the children in foster care, but instead let the substance-using parent get help while still taking care of their children."
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