EVERYONE 'HAS A MORAL DUTY' TO HELP CHILDREN AT RISK

INDIVIDUALS have a moral duty to watch out for children at risk
because of drug-abusing parents, Community Safety Minister Fergus
Ewing said today.

He dismissed the idea that such an approach amounted to snooping and
insisted child protection was "everyone's business".

In a speech to a drugs conference, Mr Ewing said up to 60,000
youngsters across Scotland were affected by their parents' drug
misuse. He said: "These are shocking an unacceptable statistics.

"We are creating a very dangerous situation, which - if left
unchecked - could have grave consequences of future generations, in
terms of health, life chances, future drug addiction, alcoholism and crime."

It is two years ago this month since East Lothian toddler Derek Doran
died after apparently drinking methadone.

A murder charge against his mother Lisa Dodds, 26, of MacFarlane
Court, Elphinstone, was dropped earlier this year.

Mr Ewing said child protection would form a key plank of the Scottish
Government drugs strategy due to be published next spring. And he
said it would focus on prevention, early intervention and support for
children and families.

But he added: "I return once again to a sense of morality. We have to
accept our responsibility for the health and well being of future generations.

"Of course, there is a significant responsibility on agencies to get
it right - especially when it comes to protecting children.

"But it is also incumbent on us as individuals and communities for us
to take responsibility for our neighbours and fellow citizens.

"Everyone needs to be vigilant to the terrible situations of children
in drug-abusing households.

"This is not about interfering, but protecting the safety, health and
life chances of our children.

"Child protection is everyone's business."

And he used the speech in Glasgow to appeal to members of the public
who wished to report concerns about a child to use the national child
protection phone line. He said: "The call handlers will assess the
information and provide help if it is needed.

"It is a 24-hour-a-day, seven days a week service. Members of the
public can call to discuss concerns and what happens next depends on
the child's circumstances.

"If the child is in immediate danger, then action will be taken right away."

A report in the summer estimated that out of 3450 drug addicts in
Lothian being treated with the heroin-substitute methadone, between
1026 and 1938 had children living with them at home.

Across Scotland, the report said around one third of those on
methadone treatment had under-16s living with them all or part of the time.

Health chiefs have admitted the vast majority of those on methadone
take their medication at home at least one day a week, because most
pharmacies are closed on Sundays.