The Protection of Children Abusing Drugs (PChAD) act is an Alberta law that helps children under the age of 18 whose use of alcohol or drugs will likely cause significant psychological or physical harm to themselves or others. The law took effect on July 1, 2006. The PChAD program allows you, as a legal guardian, to ask the court for a PChAD Protection Order for your child. This Protection Order means that your child will be taken involuntarily to a Protective Safe House for up to 15 days for detoxification, stabilization, and assessment.