There is a great deal of pride in many young people in Bermuda who strive to make positive contributions in a number of fields both here and abroad, and that must be encouraged throughout the island, as the struggle continues to not only climb out of a troubled economic state, but also to maintain strong values.

Our children are the candles that will light our future, and when even one candle is robbed of its potential to burn brightly, that future is under threat. The vulnerable are targets for negative elements, including illegal drugs, which slowly destroy, while giving the illusion of an escape from reality.

It is no secret that here on our beautiful island, illegal drugs are not confined to cannabis, which remains controversial, since it is known to affect the brain and other organs. But when it is refined under medical guidance, it can assist in treatment for patients with certain ailments. There is no disputing that what is sold as an underworld stimulate on our streets, and throughout parts of the world, carries health risks for the user. Many dispute that finding, which is supported by leading medical authorities globally.

What seems to be happening beneath the radar is that, with illegal drug activity more widespread than is commonly known in a tightly knit community such as Bermuda, including heroin use, the likelihood is high that sooner or later the vulnerable will be exposed. In some cases, it involves children before they even reach their teens. Addiction, according to many who have fought to shake off the invisible monster, presents a never-ending battle to move in a positive direction to overcome the urge to return to what is described as a 24/7 nightmare.

When the family unit is shattered by substance abuse, legal or illegal, and children are involved, seeds of mistrust and anger can easily erupt into antisocial attitudes that create huge problems for any society that seeks to exist with a sense of order and respect. There have been numerous reports of heroin use by children in Bermuda — and nothing could be more disturbing.

Massive heroin use in the United States has law officials and community workers scrambling to find ways to educate young people on the dangers of becoming addicted to heroin, which continues to claim many lives weekly throughout the nation.

There are no easy answers to the illegal drug menace that has damaged community life in many parts of the world. Traffickers stay in business because demand is such that dealers never sleep in trying to find ways to circumvent the law so that supply never runs dry in the billion-dollar business.

Adult use is bad enough, but when a vulnerable child is snatched and damaged for life through exposure by people who should know better, it should be a matter of concern by every decent-thinking human being. Addiction has many faces, which means it is not confined to illegal drug activity or the abuse of alcohol.

With family life not quite the way it used to be, with get-togethers at the meal table, it will be a mammoth task for authorities and the community to create strong young minds to resist much of the negativity that eats away at values that enhance character that is much needed in building sound communities.

Saving one child from falling victim to the dark world of illegal substances would be a giant step in the right direction. The war against illegal drugs is far from over, but fewer customers will always be the best weapon.