SAVED FROM OURSELVES

Abbotsford council suffered a setback in its effort to go its own way
in dealing with its local drug problem.

Good.

The setback came in the form of the Union of B.C. Municipalities
during its annual meeting last week. During that gathering an
Abbotsford resolution to go its own way was defeated.

In that resolution, Abbotsford had suggested "autonomy" for
municipalities in dealing with drug treatment.

"It was disappointing, but not unexpected," said Mayor Mary Reeves
after the vote.

At issue is the so-called four pillar approach to dealing with drug
addiction, which includes prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm
reduction.

It's the concept of harm reduction that Reeves says won't fly in
Abbotsford.

"I want prevention and education, not harm reduction," she said,
claiming that the stance is one shared by parents in the community.

But, really, who cares what Reeves and parents in Abbotsford want? Are
they really concerned that harm reduction [showing junkies how to use
a needle without killing themselves] is going to add to the problem?

Are they really concerned they would somehow be condoning the
behaviour? Or worse, encouraging it?

People smarter than us, and smarter than Reeves and Abbotsford
parents, remain convinced that the four pillars are needed to
effectively deal with drug addiction in our communities.

This problem is only going to get worse. This fight will never end.
And as long as our elected leaders remain mired in a past that has
seen colossal failures in dealing with this problem, we will never
move forward.

As a social problem, drug addiction and the related ills of crime and
prostitution will continue to darken our fair city until our leaders
shake off the myopia of past generations and lead us down a new path.

In the meantime, we're thankful the UBCM has saved us from ourselves.