Drug raids lead to bullying of unsuspecting children; Sheriff plans action

According to Blaine County Sheriff Travis Daugherty, the children of adults arrested in drug raids are unwitting victims of bullying.

Daugherty raised awareness of the issue in a social media post in May, urging parents to remind their children to be kind.

“We had one particular incident where a little girl was in a house and said everyone at school would know what was going on in my house,” Daugherty said of a recent drug-related arrest.

According to Courtney Davis, opioid program director at the Oklahoma Faith Network, this experience is rooted in a widespread problem.

“It’s important to me to educate young people and reach them while they’re young,” Davis said. “There are a lot of stigmas around drug abuse and addiction.”

Intervening in cases of bullying is the job of schools and parents, but Davis says counseling and pro-social activities are another way for children facing a family member’s substance use disorder to get help.

“If (children) don’t have positive experiences, but only have these negative ones, it’s more than likely that they’re using substances as a coping strategy,” she said. “Partly because they saw a parent or caregiver or guardian do it, but also because they’re now struggling with depression, anxiety and trauma, and some people turn to substances to cope with that.”

Daugherty said he wants to work with school districts and prosecutors to better serve children affected by drug-related arrests. He also seeks tougher penalties for repeat offenders and those with more serious or violent criminal records.

For more information about ways to help children, visit the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse website.