DRUG TALKS CONTINUES

Yellowhead County council is calling for a regional joint meeting with drug
coalition groups in order to create a regional approach to fighting drugs.

The call came at last Tuesday's council meeting in Edson following a
donation request from the Edson and District Drug Coalition (EDDAC).

The Edson and area group was asking for $12,000 from council to help in its
fight against the methamphetamine and related drug problems.

Div. 8 Coun. Jack Williams felt there is some degree of overlap from the
various drug awareness/action groups in the region.

County chief administrative officer Jack Ramme called for a regional
strategy among the groups.

"It might be more economical to band together in order to lure speakers on
a regional basis," said Ramme.

Programs in the region include the Hinton Drug Action Committee, Evansburg
Drug Awareness Committee and Edson and District Drug Action Coalition, as
well as a group in Drayton Valley.

Div. 5 Coun. Cheryl Bissell called on her municipal body to be front and
centre.

"As a county, I think we need to take a leadership role in this."

Ramme agreed, adding if all drug coalition groups banded together they
might be more realistically funded.

"I don't feel good in giving just $12,000 to Edson," said Bissell.

Ramme agreed, saying to just fund one of the coalition makes no sense.

Council agreed to commit resources to a regional response model for
prevention and awareness issues when, and if, a regional strategic plan is
complete.

The majority of councillors indicated they may be willing to hand out more
funding for regional strategies.

Councillors agreed they would bring up the drug coalitions funding topic at
the next joint councils meeting.

"We're kind of at a crossroads -- we have to put out money where our mouth
is," said Reeve Andy Stanton.

On The Bright Side

The town of Edson, however, did approve a $12,000 grant for EDDAC at a town
council meeting on Feb. 15.

In a letter addressed to the council, EDDAC co-chair Edith Zuidhof-Knoop
explained the money would be used to hire more staff who could spend more
time on combatting the community's methamphetamine problem.

Council members clarified that they were simply confirming a committment
they had already made in principal after the coaltion asked for funding.

Before providing any funding, town council wanted more information on how
the funds would be used.

EDDAC treasurer Mike Butler said the coaltion's need for new outreach
workers is growing quickly.

"It's a lot more work than we can handle," said Butler.

"Right now our members are doing all the leg work finding funding, writing
letters, looking for sponsors, coordinating special events, working with
schools," he explained.