The History of Drug-Endangered Children in the US
In recent years, the urgency of addressing the issue of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) has intensified. The United States faces a worsening substance misuse crisis. Over the past few decades, the United States has witnessed a significant escalation in drug-related fatalities, reflecting the evolving nature of substance misuse and its impact on public health.
And, of course, in the midst of all of this there are the countless children who are so often the first-impacted yet the last to receive help or support.
Below is a broad timeline concerning the plight of Drug-Endangered Children.
DEC Timeline
1995
In December, 1995, Kathey Lynn James from Riverside, CA was responsible for the deaths of 3 children in a meth lab explosion. In 1997, she was sentenced to 45 years to life in prison.
1999
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported approximately 16,849 drug overdose deaths, equating to a rate of 6.1 deaths per 100,000 people.
2009
The early 2000s saw a continued increase in overdose deaths, largely driven by prescription opioids. By 2009, the number of overdose deaths had risen to 36,010, with a rate of 11.9 per 100,000.
2019
By 2019, this number of deaths had escalated to 70,630 deaths, a rate of 21.6 per 100,000 --- an increase of over 32,000 annual deaths in just 9 years.
2010
The opioid crisis intensified significantly in the 2010s, with a notable surge in deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. In 2010, there were over 38,329 overdose deaths (12.9 per 100,000).
2020
The trend continued into the 2020s, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted access to treatment and support services. In 2020, overdose deaths surged to 91,799 (28.3 per 100,000).
2023
Provisional data for 2023 indicates an estimated 107,543 overdose deaths.
1993
Sue Webber‐Brown, Butte County (CA) DA Investigator, recognized the connection between child abuse cases and illicit drugs. She developed a DEC program in Butte County in 1993 with a new interdisciplinary approach to rescuing these children that were living in dangerous drug environments.
2003
NADEC was formed in 2003 by state leaders to help provide leadership and coordination for the growing DEC movement.
2010
The Obama Administration called for the establishment of the Federal Interagency Task Force on Drug Endangered Children (DEC Task Force). It was launched in May 2010, and its primary mission was to enhance the identification, protection, and support of drug-endangered children. Despite its ambitious goals, the original task force faced critical obstacles that hampered its effectiveness. Chief among these challenges were insufficient federal funding and a lack of meaningful engagement with state, local, and tribal entities. NADEC was also notably not involved in these nationwide efforts.
2006
NADEC was incorporated into a nonprofit.