City Council proposes new ordinance to protect children from drugs

During a recent government meeting in Lakewood, a council member expressed significant concerns regarding a proposed ordinance aimed at protecting children and vulnerable individuals from the dangers of controlled substances. The council member emphasized that the primary goal of the ordinance should be the safety of residents rather than merely passing legislation for future consideration in Olympia.

Highlighting two specific \"whereas\" statements within the ordinance, the council member pointed out that exposure to controlled substances poses a serious threat to the health and safety of Lakewood residents, particularly children and dependent persons. They noted that the current form of the ordinance does not adequately address these concerns.

Additionally, the council member referenced a report from the Washington Poison Control Center, which documented 111 cases of accidental exposure to opioids and opiates among children aged 0 to 5 in 2020. They argued that this figure likely underrepresents the actual number of incidents, suggesting that the situation may have worsened since then.

To address these issues, the council member proposed an amendment to the ordinance. The amendment aims to establish that a person would be guilty of endangerment with a controlled substance if they use illegal substances near a child or dependent person, leave such substances unsecured, or act recklessly in a manner that could endanger these vulnerable individuals.

The discussion reflects a growing concern among local officials about the impact of substance abuse on community safety, particularly for children, and underscores the need for more robust protective measures in the proposed legislation.