GOVERNMENTS MUST SHARE BLAME FOR SAD SITUATION

Re. Rick Zemanek's Nov. 4 Editorial Dart Concerning Expectant Mothers
Harming Their Babies by Ingesting Narcotics:

The dart would be better aimed at our three levels of government:
municipal, provincial and federal.

Yes, addiction is an insidious disease. It's the kind of disease that
warrants aid and assistance to the afflicted.

Homelessness has been widely discussed lately, and homelessness is
definitely part of the problem for an addicted pregnant woman.

Please let me know of an agency in our city that provides a warm,
safe environment with long-term addiction counselling and aftercare
for an addicted pregnant woman and her child.

Most often, the only place a woman in this predicament can find to
stay is at either a drug house or a flop house.

So what kind of nourishment will she eat? What kind of hygiene will
she practise?

Will she stay away from drugs while living in a drug house? For those
people who smoke nicotine, can you not smoke when people are smoking
around you?

By the way, the most deadly toxin for a fetus is our national legal
drug: alcohol, which causes Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Only after the fetus has been deprived and poisoned for nine months
will the Alberta government swoop down and take the baby away from the mother.

Is there any help for her then? No, sadly, she will probably get
pregnant again.

Now, where is the baby's father in this equation? Let's not forget:
it takes two to tango.

Well, he's most likely an addict too, and has turned to criminal
activities to support his habit and pay off his dealer.

The irony of this situation is that he has probably been caught and
is now enjoying three squares a day, a warm bed and watching cable
TV, albeit, once again, without the benefit of drug rehabilitation counselling.

Most likely, without long-term drug rehabilitation and effective
after care, this "dead-beat dad" will relapse, re-offend,
re-impregnate the same or another female addict, and re-enter the
legal system. This is our revolving door philosophy that proceeds unabated.

Folks, it's costing us millions, and evidenced by reading the same
sad names in the local paper.

This is a fine example of our Alberta Advantage.

I believe that our Alberta Advantage is misguidedly stashed in a bank
vault. Our Alberta Advantage encourages societal values and living
conditions akin to a Charles Dickens novel.

The Mayor's Task Force on Homelessness is in its very early stages of
addressing these important humanitarian issues, albeit with 10 years
to completion. I don't understand why this process would take 10
years, but hey, at least it's a start and acknowledgment of a problem.

Maybe our city needs a Public Task Force to investigate a proposed
$46 million arts centre/museum when we have other social needs to meet.

It's a no-brainer to me, but all I see is each level of government
standing in a triangle, pointing the finger at each other as to who
is responsible to provide funding and assistance.

Well, I'll tell you who is shouldering the tax burden, at least: taxpayers.

I would like to encourage Albertans to ensure the incoming leader of
this province understands addiction; its causes; the benefits of
rehabilitation and aftercare; and the need to change and/or create
laws to stop the dealers.

Also, the new leader must have the integrity and commitment to turn
the tables for our addicts, our homeless, and our society.

Jackie Czerniak

Red Deer