A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT MAY BE HARD TO PULL OFF

A new law took effect in Alberta today, Nov. 1. It's a law that aims
to protect children who are enduring households where illegal drug
use is commonplace.

The Drug-endangered Children Act, as it is known, will endeavor to
protect these children in several ways.

According to the provincial government, under the new law, child
intervention caseworkers and police will be able to rescue and
protect children based solely on the fact that they are
drug-endangered. A drug-endangered child is one who is defined as
being exposed to serious drug activity by the adults in their lives.
This activity includes the manufacture of illegal substances and
trafficking. The government says these children are, in effect,
victims of abuse.

The government says this legislation is in response to research that
has found that drug-endangered children are high-risk for chronic
respiratory disorders, neurological damage, cancer and physical,
emotional and sexual abuse.

Undoubtedly some people will say it's about time that legislation
like this was enacted, especially in a province like Alberta where
crystal meth, marijuana grow operations and crack cocaine are so
prevalent. There must be countless children who are drug-endangered
in our communities.

One question about this new legislation has to be how can such a
thing be enforced. Is the government going to rely on anonymous tips
to "rescue and protect" these children?

And what about children who are in homes in which one or both parents
are alcoholics or cigarette smokers? Wouldn't these children be
considered "endangered" as well? Perhaps, but alcohol and tobacco are
not illegal substances.

While the newly enacted Drug-endangered Children Act has its merits,
such a law is almost impossible to enforce, unless people turn in
their neighbours.

In a world where more and more people are avoiding getting to know
their neighbours, enforcing this law seems even more impossible. For
the sake of the children who could be helped by such a law, let's
hope it is possible.