CRACK A GROWING CONCERN

And something needs to be done, notes a letter to local, provincial
and federal government leaders from the Columbia Valley Action Team
(CVAT), received by District of Invermere council recently.

"In our last CVAT meeting of Jan. 31, we discussed our concern of the
use of crack cocaine in this area.

"Many CVAT members described that their clients have used crack, or
they were aware of someone who has used it.

"Addictions identified (included) large numbers of clients addicted to
crack cocaine. Youth workers identified the use of crack within the
youth population.

"This has posed a deep concern about the prevalent use of illegal
drugs, specifically crack cocaine," stated Pat Cope, CVAT member and
executive director of the Family Resource Centre in a March 3 letter
to the RCMP and government officials.

She explained that CVAT is a "team of local professionals who meet
each month to discuss social/health/justice needs, issues and trends
of the Columbia Valley."