SWEDISH ADVISOR HELPS CITY FIGHT THE DRUG WAR

A Swedish drugs expert was in Belfast today to highlight how to tackle the
growing problem of substance abuse.

Torgny Peterson, director of European Cities Against Drugs, met
representatives from Belfast City Council to discuss how their counterparts
across Europe deal with illegal drug misuse.

European Cities Against Drugs is a pan-European coalition of cities whose
individual governments are seeking to play a more active role in the battle
against drugs.

Mr Peterson's visit follows the setting up of a Belfast City Council
Working Group last year to consider how the council can become more active
in combating drug abuse.

In addition to Belfast city councillors and officers, the Working Group
includes representatives of the Eastern Drugs Co-ordination Team, the RUC,
the Health Promotion Agency, Belfast Education and Library Board and FT
International.

Councillor Eric Smyth, chairman of the working group, said: "Even though
Belfast City Council has no statutory powers in the war against drugs
misuse, it has a duty of civic leadership and is acutely aware of the
dangers which drugs pose to our society and especially young people within
our society.