It may have ended with a dance but the ninth annual Youth to Youth conference will be remembered more for the intangibles like friendships started, acquaintances renewed and lessons learned.

More than 150 teen and adult facilitators spent three days at the Mount St.

Agnes Academy from Friday to yesterday. There were skits, workshops, a carnival and games that were underscored with a strong drug-free message.

Youth to Youth conference organiser Mrs. Judith Burgess said the aim of the conference was to help the teens overcome the loneliness and teasing that many get when they encounter their peers who use drugs or are unaware of what Youth to Youth is all about.

"We try to pull together kids who are drug free,'' Mrs. Burgess explained.

"We have 180 kids here and not all of them are drug free.'' However Mrs. Burgess said the conference was intended to encourage teens to stay on the drug-free path by surrounding them with teens who share their beliefs.

Under the theme "Keeping It Together'' the teens participated in workshops on such topics as drug addiction, race relations, parent-teen relationships, sex, HIV and AIDS.

Mr. Bobby Petrocelli whose own life was touched by tragedy -- he lost his wife when a drunk driver crashed a truck into his home -- spoke about his triumph over this calamitous event and imparted the message that ten seconds can make a difference in a person's life between a tragic or positive circumstance.

"We want to get a larger segment of the youth population to know what Youth to Youth is,'' Mrs. Burgess added. "One of the good things about this conference is that we have a community that can be called upon.

"This is a youth-run organisation with adult volunteers and I must give thanks to all the adult helpers who helped with the food and other things and to the Mount St. Agnes School for letting us use the property.''