Pubdate: Fri, 27 Jun 2003 Source: Summerland Review (CN BC) Copyright: 2003 The Summerland Review Contact: http://www.summerlandreview.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1143 Author: John Arendt VOLUNTEERS FORM DRUG TASK FORCE Volunteers in the community will form a task force to deal with substance abuse in Summerland. Following a substance abuse forum last week, 17 people signed up to help address the community's problem. Of these, nine signed up to serve on a task force. The task force will be made up of youth, parents, seniors and business leaders. In addition, youth leaders from one church will serve in an advisory role. Coun. Rick Cogbill, one of the organizers of the forum, believes a committee can help reduce substance abuse here. "We have to make it so it's not fun for the pushers to come here," he says. If people contact the police when they notice drug dealers in the community, Cogbill believes the dealers will eventually avoid the community. He also wants to address drug use and drug trafficking at the school level. The problem is becoming prevalent at the Summerland Middle School, he says. The task force will work with police and community leaders to develop strategies to combat substance abuse. Cogbill hopes Summerlanders will eventually call the members of the task force when they notice suspicious activity. "It's extra eyes and ears for the police on this issue," he says. "We want to make the town safe." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh