DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMENTS MISS THE MARK

Your latest editorial on the city's Four Pillars Strategy ( All four pillars needed to combat drug scourge, May 15 ) draws the right conclusion with its demand for more drug treatment resources, but misses the mark in its comments on enforcement.  When the Vancouver Police Department launched the City-wide Enforcement Team initiative a year ago, it received widespread criticism that its tactics were too harsh.

Now the enforcement effort is faulted for merely "moving the problem around."

The key objectives of the CET were to reduce the open drug trade in the Downtown Eastside and to restore order in that community.  Those objectives are being met.  Displacement of the trade to other locations - - indoors and to other areas - was anticipated.  The VPD has followed up with additional enforcement.

Since the enforcement effort began, Vancouver Coastal Health has opened its supervised injection site, the harm reduction element of the strategy, with impressive results.  Lives are being saved.  Many of those using the site would undertake treatment if it were available.  The Sun challenges us to "complete and implement the plan without delay." We're on the case.

The city, for its part, is undertaking a lengthy consultation to develop new prevention strategies.  The Vancouver Foundation has undertaken the creation of a Four Pillars Fund, to encourage philanthropic support of the strategy.  Vancouver Coastal Health is working hard to improve treatment resources.  Is the strategy unfolding perfectly? No, but we believe we've turned the corner and begun reducing the harm caused to our community by addiction.

Larry W.  Campbell

Mayor, Vancouver