...a decrease in methamphetamine cases......"I was at a meeting where they said there has been a 37 percent drop in cases since Arkansas and its surrounding states put cold medicine behind the counter," he said. "I don't have the figures, but I think our numbers would be comparable."
That seems odd....putting cold medicines behind the counter? Is he indicating there's a connection between reduced access to cold medicine and lowered meth cases? It seems to me that if there was a decrease in meth cases, that would more likely reduce DSS cases than because of reduced access to cold medicines. I didn't realize your office only had three caseworkers (to be honest, I don't know how many we have in our county....I bet there's several more, though). No wonder you're over-worked...3 for an entire county seems to be a "trifle" understaffed (no kidding, you say).
Actually, there was only 2 of us until recently. The third just completed training and passed her panel.
"Is he indicating there's a connection between reduced access to cold medicine and lowered meth cases?"
Well, yes, because that is a key ingredient in making it. There's still no shortage of drug addicted moms though. I have 3 on my case load now who were all using while pregnant (two were IV meth). Two of those babies were born premature and barely over 2 lbs. Thankfully, the third was full term and fine.