Children of Drug Addicts

Is this article below the right way to handle this
issue?
Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to create more
jobs and hire personnal support workers to
monitor these homes?
Educating the families and keeping them busy
and motivated is the way to go I feel.
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CALGARY.CBC.CA
News - Full Story
Province wants to seize children of drug addicts
Last Updated: Oct 21 2005 11:59 AM MDT
The province wants the ability to remove
children from the homes of parents who
recklessly abuse drugs or are involved in
selling them.
Premier Ralph Klein said the new legislation,
being developed by Children's Services Minister
Heather Forsyth, will be introduced in the
legislature next spring and specifically targets
crystal meth.
INDEPTH: Crystal meth
"It will give government the power to rescue,
defend and shelter these children," Klein said.
"These children are being exposed to
activities and toxic chemicals that put
their lives at risk."
But Mark Cherrington, a youth and family
court worker in Edmonton, says legislation
already exists to apprehend children from
dangerous homes.
The real problem, he says, is a lack of safe
places to put them once they're removed.
"There's nowhere to put these children,"
Cherrington said.
"Nowhere to get help for these parents.
There's no resources and you can't be any
clearer than that.
"We need an increase in resources.
Not a shifting of resources, but an increase
of resources."
Klein says the new legislation is similar to the
Protection of Children Involved in
Prostitution Act, which allows the province
to intervene. And he doesn't anticipate a legal
challenge hampering the new legislation
moving forward.
"I don't know who would challenge it,
other than the bad guys, the people who
have an interest in selling drugs to children,"
Klein said.
The law is the province's latest attempt to
curb the effects of crystal meth, a destructive
and highly addictive drug that has been
gaining popularity in the province.
Klein's government is also moving ahead on
plans allowing authorities to force young
drug addicts to get treatment, putting
them in locked facilities for up to five days.

FROM SEPT. 14, 2004:
Force addicts into treatment: solicitor general
Klein has also established a task force
– co-chaired by his wife Colleen
– that will determine the province's long-term
plans for fighting the drug.
And Alberta has opened a dozen beds for crystal
meth addicts who want treatment.
The drug, which is created in home labs using
toxic chemicals and ingredients that can be
purchased at the local pharmacy, such as
cold medicine, is a stimulant that affects
the central nervous system and is 10 times
as powerful as regular speed.
Addicts are known to go long stretches without
eating or sleeping. They have increased risk of
heart attack, stroke, and liver and kidney damage.
There are also strong indications that users
suffer brain damage, including memory
impairment and an increasing inability to
grasp abstract thoughts.
In August, the federal government said it would
impose stiffer sentences on people who make,
import, sell or possess crystal meth.
with files from the Canadian Press
Link below:
http://calgary.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ca-children-drugs20051020