COUNCIL FUNDS MOVE TO CUT ABUSE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL

Stamping out drug and alcohol abuse in the city is the aim of a $52,000
strategy to be implemented locally.

And, on Monday, city council agreed to do its part, with politicians
agreeing to spend $26,000 to see the initial six-month phase of the
strategy go ahead.

The remainder of the tab will be picked up through in-kind donations by
community stakeholders such as RADAT, the Heart of Richmond AIDS Society,
SUCCESS and Turning Point.

The first phase of the substance abuse strategy will include an awareness
campaign aimed at raising public knowledge and understanding of issues
surrounding drugs and alcohol in Richmond. At the end of six months, the
strategy task force will be required to submit a report outlining the work
to date, the remaining work to be done and a breakdown of the costs.

And though the vote to back the strategy passed unanimously Monday, not all
councillors were pleased with what they saw as a vague system of measuring
the strategy's success.

"I don't mind putting money into supporting it, as long as it's not a
bottomless pit," said Coun. Evelina Halsey-Brandt.

But just what constitutes success is still under debate.

"I'm not sure what we really want to measure _ the number of addicts in the
streets or the number of students we can touch?" said Coun. Bill McNulty.
Regardless, council agreed, making an effort to fight the problem is long
overdue.

"There's been a need expressed to counter the substance abuse that is right
under our noses," said Coun. Derek Dang. Without money and contributions by
city and community staff, "we would be in a lot worse shape."