NEW LAW HELPS DRUG-ENDANGERED CHILDREN

A New Law in Alberta Is Aimed at Providing Extra Protection To
Children Exposed to Drug Activity.

On Nov. 1, the Drug-Endangered Children Act Took Effect.

"The issue of children being exposed to the dangers of drug
manufacturing and trafficking is becoming more and more common," said
Heather Forsyth, Minister of Children's Services. "The
Drug-endangered Children Act will ensure that we are able to respond
to these situations and keep more children safe."

Under the new law, child intervention caseworkers and police will be
able to take children into custody based solely on the fact that they
are drug-endangered.

The legislation, which received royal assent on March 23, outlines
drug-endangered children as those exposed to an adult's involvement
in serious drug activity, such as manufacturing and trafficking.

"These kids are being abused and they need our help," Forsyth said in
a press release.

The legislation is in response to research that has shown that
children in these situations are at a high risk for chronic
respiratory disorders, neurological damage, cancer and physical,
emotional and sexual abuse.

The law is the first of its kind in Canada. It states that once a
child has been apprehended, due to an adult's drug activity, if
within two days they cannot be safely returned to a parent or
guardian, the child will begin receiving services under Alberta's
child welfare legislation.

The regulation also considers a child who was, or is likely, to be
harmed due to an adult's drug activity to be "drug-endangered".

Anyone found guilty of an offence under the new law, can be fined up
to $25,000 or spend up to two years in jail.

The government expects the new legislation to raise awareness of the
plight of drug-endangered children and that it will result in an
increased reporting of this type of child abuse. Any suspected child
abuse can be reported through the government's Child Abuse Hotline at
1-800-387-5437.