Did you know that today is National Drug Endangered Children Awareness Day? Last year, 38,040 allegations of Drug Endangered Children were reported in the state of Tennessee, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children defines drug endangered children as children who are at risk of suffering physical or emotional harm as a result of legal and/or illegal drug use, possession, manufacturing, cultivation, or distribution. They may also be children whose caretaker’s legal and/or illegal substance misuse interferes with the caretaker’s ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment.
*1 in 8 children live in households with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder.
*1 in 10 children live in households with at least one parent who has an alcohol use disorder.
*1 in 35 children live in households with at least one parent who has an illicit drug use disorder.
*The primary challenge with drug endangered children is in identifying children at risk and coordinating the various systems and disciplines charged with intervening and providing services to these children and families.
Today, 2024 Tennessee Alliance for Drug Endangered Children – Handle with Care will have a statewide conference, which will include representatives from a wide range of agencies, coalitions, and organizations, to address the needs of our state’s children to prevent exposure to human trafficking and the dangerous drug epidemic.
The Tennessee Alliance for Drug Endangered Children approach is comprehensive, focusing on the formation of community-based partnerships to engage professionals from multiple disciplines in developing a collaborative approach to rescue, defend, shelter, and support children living in drug environments.
Later this evening, landmarks across the state will be lit up in red in observance of DEC Awareness Day, including:
*Korean War Memorial Bridge – Nashville
*The Pyramid – Memphis
*Eiffel Tower – Paris, TN
*Ferris Wheel – Pigeon Forge
*State Capitol – Nashville, TN
*TN Library and Archives – Nashville
The goal of (TADEC) is to implement a proactive approach for addressing the needs of our state’s children to prevent exposure to human trafficking and the dangerous drug epidemic. The TADEC approach is to focus on the formation of community-based partnerships to engage professionals from multiple disciplines in developing a collaborative effort to provide help, hope and support for children living in drug environments.
Through multiple grant funders; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Program for Opioid Affected Youth Initiative, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the Tennessee Department of Human Services there are now thirteen drug endangered children response team communities in the state.
How to help: If you suspect a child is drug-endangered, contact 1-877-866-6384, or to report suspected child abuse and neglect, contact the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services at 1-877-237-0004.
