Fort Smith (Feb 21/05) - Fort Smith has been warned against focusing strictly on drug busts in dealing with its addiction problem.

Speaking at a Feb. 12 public meeting, Dr. Tania Nordli, an addictions specialist from Ponoka, Alta., said drug problems are more about demand than they are about supply.

Nordli pointed to the lack of success in the United States' so-called 'War on Drugs.'

"It filled their prisons and their addiction rates didn't change," she said.

Her comments sparked discussion among the 40 people at the meeting, which was a follow-up to a September meeting on vandalism and crime.

RCMP Sgt. Craig Seafoot said police cannot stop every pusher. "We have to take the market away from them."

Ken Laviolette said it is important to work with young people to prevent drug use, but it is also important to keep the pressure on traffickers.

"I still feel it's important to nail drug dealers," Laviolette said.

Nordli said she wasn't advising not to bust anyone, but that concentrating solely on enforcement would be a losing battle.

She suggested people confront drug dealers themselves, if it is safe to do so. "That is probably more powerful than a sentence."

As for alcohol abuse, she said one way to combat it is to limit access, such as cutting hours of sale, raising the drinking age and keeping alcohol from community events.

The meeting began with Seafoot talking about a late-January seizure of about 725 grams of marijuana.

Seafoot, who had called for more community involvement in combating drug trafficking in September, said that bust was the result of a call from a community member.

"I can assure you there are more coming," he said.

However, Seafoot said the RCMP can't solve the drug problem. "All we can do is slow it down."

In fact, he noted that only two days after the recent bust, someone else had taken the place of the person charged. "There's too much money involved."

Following the September meeting, an ad hoc committee was formed to develop a strategy to combat vandalism, other crime and addictions.

A new permanent board is now being formed. Four members have already been appointed by the ad hoc committee -- Josie Weninger, Rob Genaille, Toni Heron and Paul Ennis.

Those four will make six more selections from people nominated by the community. Nominations close Feb. 25.