Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to draw attention to the plight of parents who have had to watch helplessly as their teenage children become involved with and eventually addicted to drugs.
Many of these parents have tried every means to get through these difficulties and are running out of options. There is only so much physical control a parent can realistically exercise over someone who is 16, 17 or 18 years of age, Mr. Speaker. This leaves parents in a constant state of worry, where they don't know what is happening to their children and they worry that they may hurt themselves or others.
I am speaking, Mr. Speaker, to an issue that has arisen in Alberta and they have found a solution. I am aware that they recently passed a Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act which will come into force in July of this year. I am also aware that Saskatchewan is discussing similar such legislation. This new law allows parents to apply to the courts for an apprehension and confinement order for their children who are abusing drugs and alcohol. The order can authorize confinement in a protective safe house for up to five days. This allows Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission to conduct an assessment and provide detox treatment during that time.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that, once this law comes into force, it will be a welcome relief to those Alberta families who are struggling to help protect their children and overcome the abuse that drugs and alcohol has caused.
The Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act in Alberta means that you do not have to commit a crime to get help when you have drugs taking control of your life. I think it is time that the NWT consider such acts to help protect our families and our youth. Some of the plans, when it was originally drafted, were 30 days of confinement, 90 days' mandatory protection, but I am not calling for those numbers. All I am asking for is the Department of Health and Social Services take a look at the effectiveness of this program to see if we can do something here in the North.
It is no secret, Mr. Speaker, as mentioned by MLA McLeod and MLA Menicoche, that drugs are a problem in our North and we need to stop the abuse that ranges in all ages and social groups.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, when loving parents are left without options, it is critical that our government find something so our young people don't become another statistic. So we need to affect change to stop this cycle. We cannot give up on our youth. It is not an option. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause