Pubdate: Fri, 05 Dec 2003 Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC) Copyright: 2003, West Partners Publishing Ltd. Contact: http://www.kelownacapnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294 Author: Daryle Roberts 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 or oaas.ca or check out our Web site at www. arcok.com. Daryle Roberts, executive director, ARC, AIDS Resource Centre, Okanagan and Region. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin