The Weyburn Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (WECADA) is continuing to administrate the Driving Without Impairment (DWI) program, and continues to work on their long-time goal of providing an out-patient treatment centre in Weyburn.

WECADA held their annual meeting on Dec. 12, after the original date was cancelled due to poor winter weather.

Ross Fenwick was re-elected to another term as the chairman, Grant Rubin is the vice-chair, Irene Connaughty is the secretary and Muriel Wahl is the treasurer.

"We're still working on putting a treatment centre in Weyburn," said Fenwick. "There's still a big need for it here in Weyburn, but the big thing is money. We're looking at different options to get a treatment centre put in place."

The council has talked to the South Central Health District a number of times to get a treatment centre located here, but funding seems to be the core issue.

Fund-raising activities were also discussed by WECADA members, to help support such programs as DARE and Drug Awareness Week in the community. WECADA is a non-profit charitable organization which can issue tax receipts for cash donations.

WECADA administers the provincial DWI program, which is an education program for those convicted of impaired driving offences, but don't require alcohol or drug abuse treatment.

Weyburn's DWI program saw about 70 participants go through in the last year, said Connaughty, who is the program co-ordinator on behalf of WECADA. She is optimistic about the good the program does in helping to educate drivers about drinking and driving.

"The new legislation is definitely better encouragement to get people into the program. Drivers can't get their licence back until they go for assessment, and this determines if they need a class or treatment. The percentage of those who go to treatment is low in this area," said Connaughty.

There are two instructors for the Weyburn area, and they offer classes as needed. Right now they are held every other month, but are sometimes held more often if the need is there.

The most recent class of 11 students was held over the Dec. 15-17 weekend, and despite poor winter weather, all students were there for all three classes. Only five of the students are Weyburn residents.

Connaughty and both instructors are members of WECADA, which she says is helpful in providing a support base for running the DWI program.