DEALING IN DRUGS

In the past five years drugs have claimed the lives of more than 80 North
Shore residents.

Last year, more than 320 admissions to Lions Gate Hospital were
substance-abuse related.

In 1999, there were 134 heroin-related crimes on the North Shore.

These are just a few of the alarming statistics the North Shore Task Force
on Substance Abuse studied while developing a new strategy to address the
growing concern of local substance abuse.

"These are the statistics that forced us to act," said Craig Keating, a
North Van City councillor and task force chair. "Many people in our
community recognize just how serious this issue is and have demanded that
we take action. That is why the task force was established and that is why
we have unveiled this important strategy as a first step toward addressing
our community's concerns."

On Tuesday, the task force, formed last October, released a four-part
strategy to address substance abuse on the North Shore.

Based on a European substance-abuse model that has already been looked into
by the City of Vancouver, the key elements of the "four-pillar approach"
are: prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction.

"I've seen what happens when you don't deal with this issue," said task
force member Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn, former Vancouver Police Department
staff sergeant in the Downtown Eastside.

"I've seen too many young people who ruin their lives and destroy their
future," he added.

MacKay-Dunn said it would be naive for parents to believe substance abuse
isn't prevalent on the North Shore. "The problem is in our neighbourhoods."
Currently, treatment services for young people are inadequate to meet the
growing demand for services. The wait-list for access to rehab and detox
programs can be as long as five months.

"There's a huge shortage in terms of what is needed," MacKay-Dunn said.
Still, the veteran cop believes that in order to be effective, any drug
strategy must include the four pillars. Prevention, treatment, enforcement
and harm reduction, however, don't work on their own. "They all have to be
implemented together," he said.

The North Shore Task Force on Substance Abuse is made up of representatives
from municipal governments, the North Shore Health Region, both North Shore
school districts, the Squamish and T'seil-Waututh First Nations, the RCMP
and West Van Police and the Ministry of children and family development.

"We have put politics aside, personal interest aside and worked as a group
to come forward with a strategy. It's a huge step forward and great benefit
for the entire community," MacKay-Dunn said.

The task force is hosting a series of public forums throughout the North
Shore starting in mid-October.

The forums will discuss the new strategy and ensure the recommendations
reflect local needs and concerns.

A copy of the strategy document can be obtained by contacting the North Van
City or from the NSHR website at www.nshr.org