DRUGS: UP TO US TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM

"Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for
your country."

It's those famous words spoken by John F. Kennedy that Uultsje DeJong
would like to see the people of Abbotsford take to heart in an effort
to clean up the drug problem and the related crime in the city.

"I'm not looking to the government to solve out problems," DeJong
said. "It is up to the community."

DeJong is chairman of the Abbotsford Coalition for Crime Prevention
and Drug Treatment, a group that is holding a town hall meeting April
10 to discuss how to get a handle on drugs and prostitution.

The meeting will "allow people to vent, but after that show what's
being done already and what needs to be done and how people can get
involved." One area DeJong is focussed on is creating detox
facilities. "The new hospital would be a perfect location for detox,"
he said.

In the Lower Mainland, there are 73 beds.

The number accessible to Fraser Valley residents was reduced April 1,
with the beds at two locations being reserved only for those in the
Coastal Health Authority.

"That's left us with 22 beds at Maple Cottage (in New Westminster)," he said.

Only three of those beds are reserved for youth, an age group to
which DeJong directs his attention.

As part of the town hall meeting, DeJong would also like to see
neighbourhoods and churches step up to the plate and work to combat
some of the problems.

Wednesday's forum is just one of a number planned for various
locations in Abbotsford.

"It's the whole city that needs to be involved," said DeJong. "The
drug problem affects the whole city."

Other groups involved in the meeting are the Abbotsford Chamber of
Commerce, Abbotsford Downtown Business Association and school
trustees.

Wednesday's forum takes place at 7 p.m. at Trinity Memorial United
Church, 33737 Hazel St.