partnership with its advertising agency, Aardvark Communications, is highlighting drug use in Bermudian society and its impact on youths -- especially black males. As a result, a campaign presently in use, is depicting the progression from drug use to crime, to incarceration. In order to best exemplify this, eight radio messages of personal experiences by prison inmates, are now being run on the radio. Agency representatives -- with the agreement of the Ministry of Health & Social Services, and the authorities at Westgate Correctional Facility -- sat in on two, two-hour sessions at Westgate during which 14 inmates shared stories of their family life, exposure to drugs and its devestating impact on their lives. The NDC found that each story had a common theme: Introduction to drugs occurred between the ages of 6 and 12 and within the family unit.

The use of marijuana led to the use of harder drugs.

The joy of drug use soon changed to pain.

Thefts and violence were used to acquire funds for drugs.

The addiction destroyed almost every caring relationship they had previously enjoyed.

The outcome was eight powerful radio messages now run on the radio as inmates show their support for the efforts of the NDC.

DRUGS SUPPLEMENT DGS