FIRST STEPS TAKEN IN HARM REDUCTION

To the editor:

We would like to thank Mayor Walter Gray for taking the leadership in
hosting our first Community Forum on Community Safety and Harm
Reduction to address the major issue of drug addiction in Kelowna.

The forum was very successful with over 200 people in attendance. It
provided an opportunity for those in the community affected or
concerned by this issue to hear presentations.

This is the first step in developing a made-in-Kelowna framework based
on the Four Pillars and over 60 individuals from the forum signed up
for the next step, which will be a meeting on Jan. 7, location yet to
be announced, to form a task force to start work on a Kelowna Framework.

The Vancouver Framework for Action: The Four Pillar Approach was an urgent
appeal to all levels of government, the many committed non-government
agencies, law enforcement agencies, the criminal justice system, and health
care professionals to rally together to develop and implement a coordinated,
comprehensive framework for action that would address the problem of
substance misuse in the city of Vancouver. It balances public order and
public health and is based on four pillars: prevention, treatment,
enforcement and harm reduction.

Already, Vancouver's framework is making a difference in reducing
drug-related crime and overdose deaths.

Kelowna would do well to adapt a similar framework for our city. Like
Vancouver, Kelowna will need to secure commitment for action and
financial support from all levels of government and the support and
cooperation of the stakeholders and must foster widespread grassroots
support.

I would like to thank Brian Mairs from the Okanagan Aboriginal AIDS
Society for all his hard work in the organization of the community
forum, as well as NOW Canada, Kelowna Gospel Mission and Outreach
Health Services, who worked with us and the city to bring this issue
forward.

If you want to volunteer for the task force or want further
information, please contact our office at 862-2437, or e-mail:
droberts@arcok.com or bmairs@ oaas.ca or check out our Web site at
www. arcok.com.

Daryle Roberts, executive director, ARC, AIDS Resource Centre,
Okanagan and Region.