Rita Panahi: We must protect our kids from shocking drug scenes

This week, hundreds of kids were exposed to scenes no child should witness, all because of their school’s proximity to Richmond’s government sanctioned injecting room.

Why does the state government prioritise the interests of illicit drug users above the rights of children?

The Richmond drug injecting facility continues to negatively impact children attending Richmond West Primary School and nearby residents.

For close to three years young children have witnessed shocking scenes that no child should be exposed to.

On Thursday morning kids were banned from using the school’s main entrance — which is only about 20 meters from the government sanctioned injecting facility — to avoid seeing a dead body.

The man’s death is believed to be drug related.

Sadly, this is far from an isolated incident with a series of serious incidents detailed by concerned parents and residents since the centre opened in June, 2018.

Just in the past week the school has been forced into lockdown twice, with police attending to arrest a man on school grounds on Wednesday.

Children in Richmond are entitled to go to school without witnessing distressing scenes. Picture: Ian Currie

Some of the residents of the inner-city suburb undoubtedly support the concept of so-called “safe injecting rooms” but even they must be appalled that it was placed not only in a residential area but right by a primary school.

Others may be questioning the entire idea of authorities permitting the use of illegal substances, obtained illegally, at a government run facility.

For many of the parents the focus isn’t on the legal and moral conundrums but on the impact the injecting rooms have on children who have seen overdoses, violence and drug addled individuals injecting each other in the neck.

“My children have seen things no child should ever have to see,” one parent said today.

The state government claims the injecting facility not only saves lives but is essential in “keeping Victorians safe”.

But what about the safety and mental well-being of children in the vicinity of the injecting rooms which accommodates ice users despite initial assurances from then Minister for Mental Health Martin Foley that amphetamines would be banned at the facility.

Children in Richmond are entitled to go to school without witnessing distressing scenes or having to dodge drug dealers and users congregating around their primary school.

In a civilised society the protection of innocent, vulnerable children should be paramount.