PROTECT KIDS FROM GROW-OPS

The B.C. Association of Social Workers estimates that as many as
1,000 children in the province are being exposed to the dangers of
drugs by living in homes that are being used as grow operations.

That's a frightening statistic

These children are exposed to serious health dangers including mold,
fungus and toxic chemicals. On top of that, there's also the risk of
fire. To make matters worse, there is also an increased risk of
violence due to home invasions and rip-offs.

The Ministry of Children and Family Services has no set policy for
dealing with children found living in grow-ops. The Ministry can only
assess and respond to each specific situation. Its mandate is that a
child can be removed from a home if the child has been, or is likely
to be, harmed physically, sexually, emotionally, or if the child is
deprived of necessary care or abandoned.

But the Association feels this response falls far short of what is
needed. It rightly wants is stronger legislation to protect children
in B.C. who are living in such volatile environments.

For some time now, the Association has been lobbying the B.C.
government to introduce protocols to deal with children found living
in grow-ops.

Alberta introduced new legislation last December protecting kids
found in marijuana grow operations. That province's Drug-Endangered
Act establishes that having children in a grow-op or meth-lab
environment can be considered abuse.

Maybe it's time for similar legislation in B.C.

- -- Abbotsford News