Drugs children neglect fears

Some children find care in respite centres

Children's lives could be lost if Scotland's social services continue with the policy of keeping youngsters in the care of drug addicted parents, according to a report.

The report by Glasgow University professor Neil McKeganey also recommends putting more children into temporary care in the form of "safe havens" before they become casualties of their parents' drug abuse.

It is estimated that up to 20,000 Scottish children are living with parents who have drugs problems.

There is currently no support network for these children, leading to calls for many to be taken into care.

Drugs workers are not obliged to report distressed children

Under existing arrangements, if a drugs worker comes across a child who is distressed and not being looked after, they are not obliged to tell anyone that the child exists.

In fact, if they did tell anybody, it would be seen as a breach of confidentiality.

That is one of the reasons that drugs workers say is responsible for the scale of the problem in Scotland.

Professor McKeganey, who is director of the university's Centre for Drug Misuse Research, said: "Drugs agencies are not necessarily going to know about the presence of a child in an addict household.

"When an individual comes to a drugs agency looking for help, that is the person who will be helped.

"That agency will not even ask about the presence of a child in that home.

"They might possibly say that their prime responsibility is for the adult and not the child."

Problem predicted

Professor McKeganey wants more children put into so-called "safe havens" like Aberlour Childcare Trust.

It offers respite care for both mothers recovering from drug addictions and their children.

Kim, a resident at the trust, said: "I've been in and out my child's life chaotically and really unfairly for him.

"He knows it is safe here and that nobody is under the influence here and nothing bad happens in this house."

Iona Colvin, of Glasgow Council Addiction Services, said: "I think it is something that, if we worked in drugs services, we always knew was coming, but I don't think any of use realised the extent to which it would dominate the childcare services, for example."