Pubdate: 24 Feb 1999 Source: Belfast Telegraph (UK) Copyright: 1999 Belfast Telegraph Newspapers Ltd. Contact: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ Author: Maureen Coleman SWEDISH ADVISOR HELPS CITY FIGHT THE DRUG WAR A Swedish drugs expert was in Belfast today to highlight how to tackle the growing problem of substance abuse. Torgny Peterson, director of European Cities Against Drugs, met representatives from Belfast City Council to discuss how their counterparts across Europe deal with illegal drug misuse. European Cities Against Drugs is a pan-European coalition of cities whose individual governments are seeking to play a more active role in the battle against drugs. Mr Peterson's visit follows the setting up of a Belfast City Council Working Group last year to consider how the council can become more active in combating drug abuse. In addition to Belfast city councillors and officers, the Working Group includes representatives of the Eastern Drugs Co-ordination Team, the RUC, the Health Promotion Agency, Belfast Education and Library Board and FT International. Councillor Eric Smyth, chairman of the working group, said: "Even though Belfast City Council has no statutory powers in the war against drugs misuse, it has a duty of civic leadership and is acutely aware of the dangers which drugs pose to our society and especially young people within our society. - --- MAP posted-by: Mike Gogulski