with a common bond -- parenthood -- were sponsored by the Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse (CADA), to attend the PRIDE conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

Upon their return, four members of the group including Diana Corday, Wendy Lambert, Vaughn Harvey and Judith Burgess decided to establish a similar organisation locally, PRIDE Bermuda.

"We wanted to educate parents about the pitfalls of drug use and abuse, and give them the tools needed to better equip their children to say no to drugs,'' said coordinator of the PRIDE programme Youth to Youth, Mrs. Judith Burgess.

PRIDE Bermuda has grown steadily in size and effectiveness. And over the past nine years, PRIDE has developed programmes to educate both youths and adults about substance abuse.

People within the organisation are still sent abroad to PRIDE conferences to keep abreast of drug use and abuse, said Mrs. Burgess. As well, there are annual local conferences, which bring in international speakers to inspire and educate its members and the community.