NV CITY BACKS DRUG STRATEGY

IT'S no secret Vancouver has a drug problem.

What's a mystery is the lack of anti-drug action by the municipal
governments surrounding the city's east side.

With the adoption of the Lower Mainland Regional Drug Strategy, North
Vancouver City Council voted unanimously on Monday to work with its sister
members of the Lower Mainland Municipal Association (LMMA) to develop and
implement a program aimed at curbing drug abuse.

"We have a reputation for having great grass in North Vancouver and not the
kind you mow," quipped Coun. Barbara Sharp to council while considering the
proposal.

The LMMA is seeking support from member municipalities for an application to
the Federal Crime Prevention Program for funding to develop a Lower Mainland
regional drug strategy.

The project will be coordinated by the City of New Westminster on behalf of
the LMMA. The application to the federal government will see the LMMA ask
for approximately $1.4 million annually for five years.

"When it comes to drugs and drug abuse we tend to focus on East Vancouver
where the majority of the problem exists," said Coun. Bob Fearnley. "We need
to develop a local criteria for public services (to deal with this issue)."

In a frankly worded letter to Mayor Jack Loucks, LMMA president Janis
Elkerton asked for North Vancouver City council to draft a letter supporting
the association's request to the federal government for funding. Council
agreed wholeheartedly to offer its support.

"We need to seek funding from the federal government, we can't tackle this
on our own," Coun. Stella Jo Dean said. "We're certainly not doing our best
for the young people (in North Vancouver)."

Dean found it particularly shocking that only eight provincial beds exist on
the North Shore for severe drug abusers who are seeking rehabilitation.

She was exasperated further upon learning that there is an eight-month wait
for one of those beds to come available.

Coun. Darrell Mussatto, who works as a paramedic, expressed concern about
identifying the substances most commonly abused by young people.

"I hope council realizes that a drug bogeyman does not exist and that
alcohol is the most widely abused drug," he said. "I hope this strategy will
deal with alcohol and recreational drug abuse."

A 1994 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Survey conducted by the federal government
found that 13.1% of Canadians use opiate narcotics, while 7.4% smoke
marijuana.

"The purpose of this strategy is to deal with this problem with the support
of the whole Lower Mainland," Sharp said. "Several heads are better than one
when dealing with this." In a glowing display of unity, councillors took
turns expressing their undivided support for a regional drug strategy and
collectively promised to take action.

"It's better to build boys and girls than to try to mend men and women,"
Coun. Barbara Perrault added.

The LMMA will submit its application to the federal government this month.

Copyright 1998 by the North Shore News.

Checked-by: Don Beck