The National Drug Commission will celebrate its tenth anniversary this week with a news magazine which will be placed in every post-box on the Island.

The magazine, highlighting the NDC's achievements in its first ten years of public service, will also be randomly delivered to 100 homes.

"We are all diminished by the death or destruction of another human being," NDC chairman Rev. Andrew Doughty said. "This is particularly true when it comes to those who are affected by alcohol and drug abuse, as it affects us all.

"There is not one family in Bermuda that has not been diminished by alcoholism and/or drug addiction."

The quango was established by the National Drug Commission Act, 1993, that became effective in January, 1994, explained chairman Rev. Andrew Doughty.

It was the 1991 Archibald Report which recommended the creation of a national authority, independent of politics, and given the responsibility of co-ordinating and evaluating the various programmes organised in the areas of education and prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, enforcement and control, and international co-operation.

NDC CEO Don Philip said the NDC has the responsibility of prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, and education, particularly of young people, when it comes to alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse.

Surveys among students have indicated some positive findings, Dr. Philip said, with marijuana and cigarette use going down.

Regarding adults, however, surveys have indicated several setbacks where alcohol use among adults decreased by 2.2 percent but cigarette and marijuana use declined by less than one percent.

The news magazine will give details of the past and present of the NDC, including information on programmes, surveys, and public education campaigns.

It will also highlight the future of the quango. The NDC's new strategic framework was formed by recommendations from an analysis of the current drug situation and the impact it has had on Bermudians in terms of low access to treatment and rehab, and the lack of evidence-based and tested-effective programming, Dr. Philip said.

The emphasis of the framework is solely devoted to drug demand reduction efforts. The strategic framework will direct the NDC for the period 2005-2009.