SCHOOL BOARD OPPOSES NEP

Editor, The News:

The following letter was also originally sent to Fraser Valley Health
Region medical health officer Dr. Gillian Arsenault:

On behalf of the board of school trustees, I wish to add our voice opposing
the implementation of a needle exchange program in the Abbotsford area.

Already we are experiencing a number of school sites where needles have
been discarded by drug users.

We believe a needle exchange program will only escalate this already unsafe
situation for students.

The board requests the health region look at treatment centres and
detoxification programs as a better way to assist the drug user, rather
than further encouraging the use of drugs by supplying needles.

John G. Smith Chairman, Abbotsford school board