Inspector Gertrude Barker has said that attacks on women, either in the home or related to home situations, are on the increase. She has also said that the people involved in such attacks are getting younger and the incidents are getting nastier. "Getting nastier'' refers to the fact that assaults which used to involve only the hands now involve dangerous and damaging weapons.

Inspector Barker has said that she thinks the number of incidents will continue to rise and the incidents will get nastier as long as drugs have an impact on Bermuda.

It has been clear to many people for a very long time that alcohol or drugs and sometimes both usually play a part in domestic violence. Drugs play a part but more often than not it is alcohol which sparks into violence as soon as there is a domestic dispute. All too often the spark itself is a row over the abuse of drugs or alcohol and it ends in violence.

This newspaper is not prohibitionist in any way, but because of the dangerous side effects of alcohol abuse, it has long advocated dispensing alcohol with a social conscience. Too often alcohol is pushed on people who already have a problem or who are susceptible to having a problem. That comes about because of the way alcohol is openly promoted in Bermuda, especially at sporting events, and because as a Country we are careless about how and to whom alcohol is dispensed. That is especially dangerous for people who may already be under social or financial stress. In tough times alcohol becomes either solace or an escape. We believe that when personal relationships are troubled and under stress, alcohol use sparks violence.

Most Bermudians identify drugs, including alcohol, as a major problem in Bermuda. There is deep public concern which shows up every time the public is asked its opinion. It is generally accepted that Bermuda has to have a national will to counter alcohol and drug abuse.

That is why this newspaper has to be deeply concerned that there has not been universal support for the vital National Drug Commission. The Progressive Labour Party has been far from helpful during the establishment of the commission, which is now established by law, and seems to have resisted getting the Drug Commission going. In fact, we think the PLP and its friends have done their best to obstruct the formation of the commission and their best to delay the commission's operation. They failed because the Commission is now funded and operating.

It is a national shame that the PLP has played politics with drugs and alcohol and with the lives of people in need of help because drug and alcohol abuse crosses all areas of Bermudian life.

The National Drug Commission is the result of the second report by Dr. David Archibald. It could have been in place months ago had it not been kicked around and fought over. It is sad that the public concern to combat drugs and alcohol did not seem to matter. What mattered was scoring political points and that is a great shame.