State promotes drug endangered children awareness day

A recent release by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is hoping to draw some attention to the importance of keeping children safe by raising awareness of Drug Endangered Children Day across the state. The effort is about as vital as it can get.According to a TBI report, last year, 42,581 allegations of Drug Endangered Children were reported in the state of Tennessee. To observe and support the initiative, Wednesday, April 26, 2023, as part of the observance of National Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Awareness Day, various landmarks across the state will be lit up in red.The event, sponsored by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation/ Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force, and TN Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, a proclamation by Representative Mary Littleton of the DEC Awareness Day Resolution. Landmarks across the state will be lit up in red in observance of DEC Awareness Day Wednesday night, including Korean War Memorial Bridge - Nashville, The Pyramid - Memphis, Eiffel Tower – Paris, TN, Ferris Wheel/ The Island – Pigeon Forge and the TN Aquarium – Chattanooga.Locals are encouraged to follow suit if it is possible but at least ponder the sad consequences of children at risk due to substance abuse at home or under the supervision of a caregiver. The National Alliance for DEC defines drug-endangered children as children who are at risk of suffering physical, mental, or emotional harm as a result of a parent or caregiver's legal or illegal substance misuse. They may also be children whose caretaker's substance misuse interferes with the caretaker's ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing environment.Recent statistics put things in perspective mentioning that 1 in 8 children live in households with at least one parent who has a substance use disorder. One in 10 children live in households with at least one parent who has an alcohol use disorder. One in 35 children lives in households with at least one parent who has an illicit drug use disorder.According to officials 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," the release said.The goal of the TN Alliance for Drug Endangered Children is to implement a proactive approach to 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 rescue, defend, shelter, and support children living in drug environments.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.