That Austin Warner is even alive to tell his story is something of a miracle! By his own admission the 49- year-old recovering addict considers himself fortunate to survive drug addiction which started when he began experimenting with drugs as a ten-year-old growing up in New York.

That addiction lasted into his teens, but with the help of others who came into his life, Mr. Warner's own life was not only saved but turned around. He is now dedicating that life to helping others and next Monday will co- host the third Council Partners Telethon with VSB anchor Charmaine Burgess.

"Thirty-two years ago there was a group of people who woke up on a particular morning and had a mind to help me,'' said Mr. Warner, as he emotionally reflected back on his early life.

"They never knew me, never met me, but they heard about the cause and they contributed to that cause. They contributed their time and money and because they made that choice 32 years ago, I've been clean and sober 31 years.

"And, what I've done is I've taken that and given it to others, so that contribution has had a major impact. Little did they know that what they did for that kid 32 years ago would be helping people in Bermuda.'' As a result of those experiences Mr. Warner has found his calling.

"This is ministry for me, this is what God gave to me and I'm giving back to others,'' he said.

"I don't support the philosophy that only addicts can help addicts. The issue is not about the drug, the issue is about the pain and everybody experiences pain.

"Yes, I do believe, however, that addicts who are called to do this have a major impact on other addicts.'' And Mr. Warner stressed that it is not just the funds that will help the agencies make a difference in people's lives. "The invitation is a call to action,'' he said. "Yes, we do need your financial help, but we need your heart more than we need your money. Because if we get you to make this a priority, whatever means you bring, you will share those means with us. "Some of our agencies have more volunteer needs than others. Putting that aside, what we invite people into is that whole midset that `I can make a difference and what I contribute to this will have lasting effects'. "That's the message I continue to communicate when I go out.'' The messages are getting through to the young people. Sheila Nicoll, chairperson of next week's telethon, saw that when she attended the PRIDE Conference last week. "There were four recovering addicts speaking to the kids and my 11-year old was blown away,'' Mrs. Nicoll revealed.

"All he was talking about all the way home in the car was what he had heard.

So the addicts can have a powerful effect not only on other addicts but also on the kids.'' Listening to the addicts speak impacted on her, too.

"One of the addicts, John, said that the cocaine made him feel like Superman, but then he had to take the cocaine just to feel normal, when Superman went very quickly,'' she said.

Mr. Warner is confident the drug and alcohol abuse problem in Bermuda can be overcome, it starts with education. He works as Director of Development- Community for the Council Partners and also hosts a Monday lunchtime radio talk show on VSB.

"On my radio show on Monday I had two kids from Port Royal School and they are members of PRIDE Pals and they very articulately communicated to me and to everybody who was listening how proud they are to be a part of PRIDE Pals,'' said Mr. Warner.

"They said how it was such a gift to them to be able to talk with other people on the air and and be part of changing their lives,'' said Mr. Warner.

"I got teary-eyed, I felt so emotional about it. The reason being -- and I told them this -- that you guys are ten years of age and making major changes and inroads into the lives of others by sharing your experience, strength and hope with them.

"When I was ten I was using heroin, and I had to share that with them and tell them how proud I as of them and how wonderful it is that they have great relationships at home and school and at PRIDE.

"What's more important to share is hope and that you don't have to make these decisions, and how important it is to trust your mother and father and how important it is to trust a teacher, an adult, the pastor at your church.

That's the real message, not the crazy things I did.'' Mr. Warner also stressed that too much information to a curious, young mind can have a negative impact.

"I distinctly remember watching a movie when I was in Catholic school about a heroin addict who was cooking drugs so he could shoot them up,'' he revealed.

"About four years later my mind remembered how to do that, so when I started using drugs and it was time to shoot dope I remembered that film. Nobody had to show me. So you have to be careful how you teach these things.

"I'm really careful what I say to certain kids, I won't get into specifics about my history with young kids. I will tell them that it's really hard for me growing up, but I also tell them when I should have trusted my daddy, I didn't.'' Born in Harlem, Mr. Warner has spent 23 years in Bermuda where he has a Bermudian wife and is related to the Warners here. In the last six years he has been back here he has seen the drug problem escalate.

"My fingers have been on the pulse from the very beginning,'' he says.

"Bryant Richards and I sat down and wrote the whole Addiction Services programme. I used to have addicts in my home kicking heroin (trying to kick the addiction) back in the 1970s before the methadone programme. Most of them are dead now.'' Mr. Warner is surprised he didn't suffer a similar fate many years ago.

"I'm very surprised, but I'm grateful to be living,'' he stated. "I didn't used heroin as long as many people did. I used it from ten to 17 years of age but there was a lot of damage, in fact damage I'm paying for today.

"But I'm grateful, it could have been worse, I really shouldn't be alive.''