Research paperThe role of child protection in cannabis grow-operations
Introduction
Illegal indoor cannabis grow operations have become an increasing problem in Canada, receiving significant attention from the media, policing agencies, and government (CTV News, 2011, Plecas et al., 2005, RCMP, 2002, Stop the Violence, 2012). Aside from the criminal justice perspective, police and child protection social workers are concerned about the presence of children living in homes where cannabis is being grown. For over a decade, child protection social workers have been faced with the task of assessing the risk to children found living in cannabis grow operations (Douglas, 2010). The physical hazards that exist in these homes, as well as the environmental conditions potentially pose a threat to the health of the children living there (Canadian Institute of Child Health, 2003, Dales et al., 1991, Gustin, 2010). Illegal wiring, hydro bypasses, chemicals and pesticides, mold, and compromised air quality are all factors that contribute to these concerns. However, these home safety concerns that bring grow ops to the attention of police, fire departments, hydroelectric providers, landlords and insurance companies are arguably a consequence of the prohibition against cannabis production that has driven it underground.
This research examined the rationale for child protection interventions with families found living in cannabis grow operations, based on the assumption of risk in the presence of probable medical harm.
Section snippets
Background
The current response to child maltreatment has involved the creation of regulatory agencies: child protective services that exercise the power of the state to intervene with families where children have been abused or neglected, or are at risk of being abused or neglected (Dingwall & Eekelaar, 1988). It is the allegation or evidence of maltreatment that allows for the government's intrusion into the affairs of the family (Larner, Stevenson, & Behrman, 1998). However, the role of child
Neglect
By most definitions, child neglect involves an omission on the part of a parent, a failure to provide or protect, that leads to a child's harm or endangerment. Parental responsibility and blame are at least implicit in most legislation. In British Columbia, the Child, Family and Community Service Act speaks directly to the problem of neglect, but child protection action requires that there be physical harm or likelihood due to the neglectful acts of the parents (Child, Family and Community
Methods
This research involved the collection of data through the use of a survey instrument and direct observation by the child protection workers who attended the grow operation homes as part of their investigation. Child protection workers were assisted in the data collection by other first responders, notably police, fire officials, and hydro employees.
The data set consists of only the children and families found living in cannabis grow operations in two regions within the Greater Vancouver
Data analysis
The quantitative data was analysed using frequencies and logistic regression. The variable categories reported below were included in the analysis, and are part of the larger data set. All data management and analysis was conducted using SPSS version 16.0. Frequencies were calculated on all variables to provide a descriptive representation of the families and children included in the study, as well as the conditions of the cannabis grow operations where they were living. Only the data related
Limitations of dataset
Children and families living in cannabis grow operations in Greater Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia who did not come to the attention of police or child welfare authorities are not included in this study. In addition, information gathered was at the ‘moment in time’ when there was intervention by police and child protection workers. Children lived in these homes for varying degrees of time that were difficult to ascertain, or they may have lived in multiple dwellings. Some of
Sample characteristics
There were 95 families included in the study. The number of children per family ranged from one to five, with a little over half (52.6%) of the families having two children. The children ranged in age from newborn to 18 years old, with 68 of the 181 children (37.6%) being under five years of age.
English was spoken by 54 (57%) of the families, although 68 (72%) of the families reported that Vietnamese was their primary language.
One hundred and thirty-one (76%) of the children had lived in grow
Discussion
The presence of mold, re-venting of gases, and the chemicals often found in grow operation homes suggested that the children living there might well suffer from the ill effects of these environments, and could be expected to exhibit respiratory and/or dermatological ailments (Freeman et al., 2003, Garrett et al., 1998, Kim et al., 2002, Pettigrew et al., 2004). Indeed, 21% of the children were found to be unwell at the time of child welfare intervention. The examination of prescriptions focused
Conclusion
Child protection and the related legislation have become tools for addressing the illegal cannabis grow operation problem, as to date no system has been successful in bringing it under control. Although there is little argument that the physical hazards found in cannabis grow-operations pose a risk to children and adults living in the homes, the associated health risks are not as clear. Policymakers involved in establishing frameworks and protocols for responding to these unique child welfare
Role of the funding source
Funding for this research was received from MITACS, BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Network and the BC Child and Youth Health Research Network. The BC Ministry for Children and Family Development also provided assistance in-kind. These study sponsors were not involved in any aspects of the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, report writing, or in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.
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