60,000 children at drug risk

Added: (Sat Mar 04 2006)

Pressbox (Press Release) - Press release 3/3/2006 Immediate use.

It is estimated that 60,000 children in Scotland live with someone who is drug dependant (Scotland to-day 3/3/06). Thankfully the Scottish Executive have created the “Charter for Grandchildren” which will benefit a lot of children caught up in this situation. Social Services will now be expected to consider the role grandparents can play in their grandchildren's lives, as will the legal profession.

The Scottish Executive states that it does not want to interfere in family life unnecessarily. Rightly so when no one is in danger, but can the Scottish Executive ignore these 60,000 kids at risk? There is a proven high risk that these children will become addicts themselves and they depend on other adults making their situation better for them.

The Charter has been created to reflect the best interests of the child, grandparents should now be listened to when pointing out the danger their grandchildren could be in and the children can expect the authorities to ensure a grandparent's continuing involvement in their lives. The sad thing is that this protection is too limited for many children.

The Charter is an advisory document, which is based on common sense, but when a child is in danger as they are in a drug using household, they must be supported by family that can help provide safety and security.

There is an army of grandparents willing to help, if only given the right to do so, not controlling rights as in mothers or fathers rights. But “Grandparental Rights” (visiting a couple of hours a month, Christmas or birthday cards, phone calls etc) What better than other family members to help protect the child without fear of being cast aside because of their concern.

Ends

Grandparents Apart Self Help Group Scotland
Jimmy Deuchars.
22 Alness Crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
jimmy@grandparents.co.uk
www.grandparentsapart.co.uk