The head of Government's youth counselling programme said drug testing was not an essential part of the service.

Eudora Browne-Zuill, programme manager of the Bermuda Youth Counselling Services, said most students admitted using drugs even if they were not honest about the extent.

"We need to question why we do testing,'' Mrs. Browne-Zuill told those who gathered for a lunchtime forum at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday.

"Are we doing it (drug testing) to have more control and power? Or to rehabilitate and not to punish?'' She explained young people were exposed to numerous risk factors which might lead them to use drugs.

Peer pressure, low self esteem, and low socio-economic status were among the more commonly held reasons for drug use.

But Mrs. Browne-Zuill said young people with poor social skills, excess freedom, or who were trying to improve themselves, could also be more susceptible to drug abuse.

She recalled a young man who recently told her he drank Guinness to make him more of a man.

Educating children about the different natures, classifications and the short and long-term effects of drugs was an important first step, Mrs. Browne-Zuill said.

And another crucial point was to determine the young person's self-perception.

Most of the students brought to the BYCS were either unaware of or unconcerned about their drug problem.

"My role is to increase the individual's awareness of the extent of his or her substance use,'' Mrs. Browne-Zuill said.

After a period of self evaluation, she encouraged the young people to find out how they were seen by others.

She said they were usually surprised by the responses they received.

Once the children accepted and wanted to end their drug use problem, therapy moved through stages of mental preparation, achieving greater control of their behaviour, maintaining learning skills, and dealing with potential relapses.

"All is not lost if a relapse occurs,'' she added. "It can be a learning experience.''