VANCOUVER MAYOR TO ADDRESS DRUG FORUM

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell is bringing the Four Pillar concept to Nanaimo.

Campbell is guest speaker at a public forum being organized March 18 at
Beban Park by the Nanaimo Alcohol and Drug Action Committee (NADAC).

He is one of several speakers who will talk about ways in which Nanaimo can
reduce the harm of alcohol and drug abuse.

Campbell is an advocate of Vancouver's Four Pillar Approach D a means of
tackling substance abuse through four main methods: enforcement,
prevention, treatment and harm reduction.

"You can't have one without the other," says NADAC spokesman Tony White.

"That's one of the concerns with this Four Pillar approach. You've got to
pretty much have all four pillars in place. You can't just be doing one thing."

Vancouver's Four Pillar Approach is part of a larger discussion on alcohol
and drug problems slated for the forum.

The forum begins at 8:30 a.m. and runs throughout the day with various
speakers, panel discussions and small group discussions. More than 60
people have registered so far, including Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Judith Reid
and Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan. White expects about 100 participants.

Participants must register in advance by calling 754-1266. The $10 fee
covers admission, breakfast and lunch.